Queensland’s borders will be closed in a bid to halt COVID-19 spreading across the state.
It comes after people were blocked from hanging out publicly and in large groups to comply with Australia’s strict new social shutdown policies.
The state government made the decision on Monday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the national closure of bars, pubs, clubs, casinos, indoor sports venues, and religious venues to control coronavirus is being enforced.
Queenslanders must take the new measures seriously.
Council elections and by-elections in Currumbin and Ipswich are going ahead on Saturday after postal voting and pre-polling periods were extended to avoid mass crowds.
Health Minister Steven Miles says there have been 60 additional cases confirmed overnight, bringing the state’s total to 319.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has already announced a 500-officer-strong taskforce to enforce the dramatic shutdowns announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday night.
Queensland announced a task force looking at Brisbane’s party precinct at the weekend.
“I talked yesterday about some tough love and more will be rolled out in the coming weeks and months,” Palaszczuk said on Monday.
“We know that if we are all playing our part and we’re all working together, we can absolutely get through this.”
She said there was light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel, but only if everyone followed orders to stay 1.5 metres away from each other, and the government’s social closure orders.
Holidays planned during the school break should also be cancelled.
That means families are barred from packing up the car and hitting the road, going camping or heading to the beach.
“We want to send a clear message to people to stay in your state and stay in your suburb,” Palaszczuk added.
“There is no school holidays.”
She has defended the national decision to keep schools open, however parents can choose to keep their children at home where they can learn online.
Teachers are angered by the two sets of rules and say that no-one is talking about what might happen to them if they’re infected by students.
They report public schools don’t have enough hand sanitiser and soap, and there is no possible way for them to enforce the four-square-meters per person rule in classrooms.
Hospitals are beginning to reschedule less urgent surgeries to make way for those in need of treatment for the novel coronavirus, and Queenslanders are being urged to donate blood.
The arrival of four cruise ships in Sydney carrying thousands of people who have since spread across Australia has Miles worried after some passengers tested positive for the illness.
“We’re in the process of contacting all of them,” he said.
“They are all required to cut themselves off for 14 days.”
