Western Australia has closed its border to all of Queensland even though only Greater Brisbane is going into lockdown for the next three days.
WA Premier Mark McGowan said his state could not afford to hesitate in shutting its borders with the Sunshine State after the highly-infectious UK strain of COVID-19 was detected in a hotel quarantine worker.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk earlier announced Greater Brisbane would enter a hard lockdown for three days from 6pm on Friday.
She said locals will have to wear face masks when leaving the home.
Arrivals at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport are pictured on Friday. Western Australia has closed its border to the whole of Queensland despite the state’s severe three-day lockdown only affecting Brisbane
There are 2.5 million people living in greater Brisbane – with the lockdown applying to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands.
‘Think of it as a long weekend at home. We need to do this. I’ve accepted the strong advice from Dr Young,’ Ms Palaszczuk said.
‘If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown.’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the lockdown a ‘wise decision’ and said it was a ‘proportionate’ response to the threat of the UK strain.
There are 2.5 million people living in greater Brisbane with lockdown applying to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands
He urged people in Brisbane not to leave, saying ‘stay where you are.’
Residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons: essential shopping, exercise in the local neighbourhood, healthcare reasons or for work.
The mutated strain of Covid-19 is believed to be up to 70 per cent more infectious, worrying health authorities.
‘Please, everybody, let’s be in this together, let’s stay at home, look at it as a long weekend at home with your family and friends,’ Ms Palaszczuk said.
The UK mutation of Covid-19 has health authorities worried that if they don’t act quickly, it may spread quickly in the community.
‘Please, everybody, let’s be in this together, let’s stay at home, look at it as a long weekend at home with your family and friends,’ Ms Palaszczuk said.
Long queues have formed outside of shops and supermarkets as shoppers rush to buy groceries ahead of lockdown in Brisbane
‘It will be tough on everyone for these three days. I think everybody in Queensland, especially the Greater Brisbane area, knows what we are seeing in the UK and other places around the world is high rates of infection from this particular strain.
‘We do not want to see that happening here in our great state and that is why we are taking those strong actions today.
Residents will also not be allowed to have more than two visitors are their home while restaurants will only be open for takeaway.
A shopper visits the Coles at New Farm ahead of the hard lockdown in Brisbane from 6pm Friday
Prime minister Scott Morrison tweeted his support following the announcement of the lockdown.
‘Wise call by Queslsand Premier AnnastaciaMP to have a brief lockdown to enable Queensland health authorities to get on top of the UK strain case in Brisbane,’ it read.
‘A big thanks in advance to everyone in greater Brisbane for their patience in coming days.’
Shoppers headed straight to a Coles at New Farm after it was announced Brisbane would be placed into a hard lockdown
Shoppers queue outside a Woolworths at Camp Hill ahead of hard lockdown in Brisbane
Queensland reported no new locally transmitted cases and nine new cases in hotel quarantine on Friday.
Aged care homes across greater Brisbane were also sent into lockdown with visitors barred from visiting facilities in the Metro North, Metro South and West Morton heath regions.
Hospitals, prisons and disability accommodation in the same areas are also banned from accepting visitors.
Although supermarkets will still be open during the lockdown in Brisbane, shoppers have rushed to buy groceries
The mutated strain plaguing the UK is believed to be up to 70 per cent more infectious than the original.
It is causing a sharp rise in cases in England and prompted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to order a national lockdown until at least mid-February.
Britain reported more than 60,000 new confirmed cases in 24 hours for the second day in a row on Wednesday.
More to come
