Community urged to remain COVID-19 alert to keep Sunshine Coast safe

Don’t be COVID-19 complacent.

That’s the message Acting Mayor Rick Baberowski wants the Sunshine Coast community to keep front of mind as Greater Brisbane enters a three-day lockdown.

Earlier today, the Queensland Government announced the Greater Brisbane area will go into lockdown from 6pm on Friday, 8 January 2021 to 6pm on Monday, 11 January 2021.

The Greater Brisbane area comprises the local government areas of Brisbane City, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan.

“Our council is strongly supportive of the intent of the Chief Health Officer’s requirements as we recognise that these measures are necessary to control the potential transmission of the highly contagious UK variant of COVID-19, which has been detected in Brisbane,” Cr Baberowski said.

“In-line with this advice, it’s vital people from Greater Brisbane do not visit the Sunshine Coast local government area and Sunshine Coast residents don’t visit Greater Brisbane during lockdown, unless an exemption applies.

“Now is the time for us to do all we can to help keep our Sunshine Coast safe and to do our bit to prevent the transmission of this variant of the COVID-19 virus throughout the Queensland community.

“Everyone has a role to play in stopping the spread and I urge everyone to act responsibly.

“In addition, as advised by Queensland Health, anyone who has been in Greater Brisbane on or since 2 January is also being asked to follow the same lockdown rules.

“This means only leave your home for essential reasons and if you do so, wear a mask.”

Cr Baberowski said since the pandemic began, the community had done a great job social distancing, washing their hands and using hand sanitiser, staying at home if they were sick and getting tested if they had any symptoms of COVID-19.

“With the five local government areas to our south now going into lockdown, it’s extremely important we keep up this good work and keep everyone safe,” he said.

“There is no need to be alarmed, but do pay close attention to the latest advice from Queensland Health and the Queensland Government.

“This lockdown is essential to allow contract tracers to do their work.”

If you have any of the following COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, call your doctor or 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and get tested:

• Fever

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Shortness of breath

• Runny nose

• Fatigue

• Loss of smell and/or taste.

Call emergency services on Triple Zero (000) if you are very sick.

COVID-19 Fever Clinics nearby

• Caloundra Health Service

• Nambour General Hospital

• P2 car park, Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital

• Gympie Hospital

Visit Queensland Health’s website for the full list of testing centres near you and for further information.

GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING HOW THE GREATER BRISBANE LOCKDOWN MAY IMPACT YOU

Guests already on the Sunshine Coast who’ve been in Greater Brisbane since 2 January 2021:

If you have guests already staying with you who have been in the Greater Brisbane area since 2 January, these people are asked to stay where they are and follow the same lockdown rules for the lockdown period.

Greater Brisbane residents who have been in the Sunshine Coast since before 2 January 2021:

These guests are fine to continue their holiday as planned. They can enter Greater Brisbane from outside the region to return home during the lockdown period, and must abide by all restrictions once home.

Brisbane guests due to check in today before 6pm:

While the lockdown commences at 6pm AEST, the advice remains that if you’ve been in Greater Brisbane since 2 January, you should stay where you are during the lockdown period.

Brisbane guests due to check in over the weekend/after 6pm tonight:

Brisbane residents can only leave home for four essential reasons. Leisure travel is not one of the reasons.

Visitors transiting through Brisbane:

Visitors can travel through the Greater Brisbane area to get from one destination to another (e.g. From the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast; or from an area of Australia that is not a declared hotspot to an area of Queensland that is not a declared hotspot – e.g. fly from Adelaide to Brisbane and then on to Cairns). If driving, they must do so without stopping and must travel in a private vehicle, such as their own car, a rideshare car or taxi. They must not transit through the Greater Brisbane area by any other mode of transport – i.e. public transport.

Further information:

Queensland Health’s website has further information which is updated regularly. Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, should get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.