Queensland’s snap lockdown will be extended until 4 pm on August 8 after 13 locally acquired COVID-19 cases were reported on Monday.
“It’s starting to become clear that the initial 3-day lockdown will be insufficient,”
Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles stated.
The new cases are all linked to an Indooroopilly high school student who tested positive on Friday, bringing the cluster to 31 cases.
What you need to know:–
- Local government areas of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim will remain in lockdown until at least August 8
- Reasons to leave home include for essential goods, essential work, exercise, healthcare, to care for someone, and get vaccinated.
- No visitors to homes.
- 10 km travel restriction in place.
- Funerals and weddings limited to 10 people – Schools will be shut on Monday and Tuesday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tweeted, Anyone who has been in an impacted local government area since 1 am Saturday 31 July must observe the same lockdown conditions wherever you are in Queensland.
These measures are critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the Queensland community.
Lockdown support for Queensland businesses
Queensland Government will provide $5,000 payments to small and medium businesses across the state affected by the current COVID-19 lockdown and lockdowns in other states.
Treasurer and Minister for Investment Cameron Dick said the $260 million 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant program would help small businesses through the current three-day lockdown.
“We know Queensland’s health response to COVID-19 has put us in the best possible position to recover from the pandemic, with nation-leading economic, jobs and retail sales growth,”
the Treasurer said.
“That’s why we were the first jurisdiction to declare a public health emergency and the first jurisdiction to announce business support measures for affected businesses, including tourism businesses,’ he added
2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants of $5,000 will be available to eligible small and medium businesses across all industries across the state.
The state government will also be providing support payments to eligible impacted large businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector in the 11 local government areas currently locked down.
This $5,000 payment is higher than most other states, recognising the short interval between lockdowns in South East Queensland, and the unique circumstances faced by regional economies that are impacted by multiple border closures.
The Federal Government’s declaration of a hotspot in the 11 local government areas has enabled individuals living in these LGA’s to receive support payments.
Queensland Treasurer urged all councils in the 11 affected local government areas, and across other impacted parts of Queensland, to implement their own assistance measures for affected businesses.
”This could include Councils contributing to supporting business cash flows and viability through the waiving of rates, fees and charges paid by small businesses, or by providing a co-contribution towards the Queensland Government’s business support grant program,” he said.
