Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk - AAP
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Southeast Queensland is on the verge of a lockdown after recording two new local cases of COVID-19, with the government moving to mandate wearing face masks.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says one new case is believed to the Alpha strain and linked to cluster involving the Portuguese Family Centre in Brisbane.
The other is a case of the Delta strain, a close contact of a miner who was out in the Sunshine Coast town of Bli Bli after becoming infected at a Northern Territory mine.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young is more concerned about 169 other workers who arrived in the state from the same mine and are still being tested.
Only 30 people are allowed inside private homes.
Wedding numbers will also be restricted to 100, with only 20 allowed to dance. Funerals will be limited to 100 mourners.
At hospitality venues, there is no dancing or standing.
Ms Palaszczuk again pressed for federal quarantine facilities and urged people to get vaccinated.
Concern over COVID case out in community
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said one of the two positive cases was already in quarantine and not of concern.
But the other case, that of the female miner, had been out in the community for one day while infectious. She was with her family and they started a road trip and immediately came back, Dr Young said.
New South Wales recorded 18 new locally transmitted Covid cases Monday
Gladys Berejiklian said the numbers will bounce around and go up considerably
Queensland recorded three new locally transmitted cases on Monday
Masks will be mandatory indoors and outdoors in QLD 11 local government areas
Millions of Australians are now facing lockdowns and increased restrictions
There are fears the outbreak could carry on growing with thousands exposed
Restrictions now in place in the Northern Territory, WA, Queensland and NSW
Other states have shut their borders to keep the virus out as clusters grow
Palaszczuk announces restrictions following two new local cases 28/06/2021|6min
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a number of new restrictions after Queensland recorded two new locally acquired cases of COVID-19.
“So there s a case that s linked to the Portuguese restaurant and that person’s in home quarantine, so we re not concerned about that,” she said.
“But as was reported yesterday, there is a female miner from the Sunshine Coast, and it is confirmed as positive with the Delta strain.
“So, it is absolutely important, if you are living around Bli Bli or the Sunshine Coast, if you have any symptoms whatsoever, we really need you to go and get tested immediately.”
Calls are growing to allow vaccinated Australians to quarantine at home when they return to the country to free up coveted hotels.
Several Liberal MPs say the option should be considered once more of the population are vaccinated against Covid-19.
There are about 40,000 registered Australians overseas who have cannot get a flight home due to arrival caps imposed to protect the hotel quarantine system.
Liberal MP Dave Sharma wants home quarantine for vaccinated travellers who test negative before and after their flight. Pictured: Airport testing in Russia
They would be able to return faster if vaccinated travellers, who are less likely to catch and transmit Covid-19, are allowed to quarantine at home instead of in hotels.