Sunshine Coast enters strictest three-day lockdown so far

Sunshine Coast Council

The Sunshine Coast local government area is among 11 areas across south east Queensland entering a snap three-day lockdown from 4pm Saturday 31 July until 4pm Tuesday 3 August.

This is due to the emergence in the last 24-48 hours of a cluster in the community with the highly infectious Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus.

The Queensland Chief Health Officer has indicated that Queensland has not previously had to deal with a Delta variant outbreak and so for this reason, this will be the most restrictive lockdown we’ve had since the start of the pandemic.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group chair Mark Jamieson said this intensive lockdown is vital to detect as quickly as possible, if there are further positive cases in the community and to minimise the risk of community transmission.

Under the directives issued by the Queensland Chief Health Officer, residents can only leave their home (which includes temporary accommodation such as a holiday rental) for limited permitted purposes such as:

• obtaining essential goods or services within 10 kilometres, including healthcare (including vaccinations)

• exercise (within a 10-kilometre radius from home)

• attending essential work or childcare or school for the children of essential workers

• assisting vulnerable persons

• obtaining a COVID-19 test or vaccination.

Under the new lockdown directions, no visitors are allowed to your residence (excluding volunteers and workers), unless providing support to a vulnerable person.

Sunshine Coast residents are strongly encouraged to regularly visit Queensland Health’s website to keep up to date on the full details on restrictions in south east Queensland and to check the list of exposure sites, which is constantly being updated.

Mayor Jamieson urged residents and visitors to comply with Queensland Health directions including handwashing, social distancing, checking in to any venues that you have to visit for essential purposes using the Queensland Government QR code and get tested if you have even the slightest of symptoms.

“Given the particularly virulent strain of the COVID-19 virus that has been detected in south east Queensland, it is vital everyone complies with the Queensland Chief Health Officer’s directions.

“There is no room for complacency with any of this and I am asking everyone to again do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”

“Information is being updated regularly as new details come to light.

“We also want everyone to follow all of the steps that we have all become familiar with now in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Masks

You must always wear a face mask when you leave home, including outdoors and for exercise, unless you have a lawful reason not to.

You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, such as:

• shopping centres and supermarkets

• hospitals and aged care facilities, if permitted to visit

• indoor workplaces (where safe to wear a mask and you can’t physically distance)

• public transport, taxis and rideshare, and waiting places or queues for this transport, and

• airports and travelling.

Testing

Options for testing are listed on Queensland Health’s website.

Changes to council services and facilities

Access to the majority of council services and facilities will be affected due to the restrictions in place. Visit council’s website for full details.

Council’s customer service centres are closed until Wednesday 4 August at 8.30am. Phone and online contact options are available, visit www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Council/Contact-Council to see all of the options.

Aquatic centres will also remain closed until Wednesday 4 August at 8.30am.

Holiday parks remain open to existing guests only and are operating in accordance with Queensland Health directions.

Ticket sales have been suspended for Thursday’s NRL game at Sunshine Coast Stadium. This will be reviewed on Tuesday.

Waste services and facilities

Council kerbside waste services, such as household rubbish collection, will continue as usual. Please limit visits to council’s waste facilities unless absolutely necessary. If you need to visit council’s waste facilities, council asks that in the interest of public health, you use tap-and-pay (payWave) to make your payment. Recycling centres will close for the duration of the lockdown.

Outdoor areas

To limit opportunities for people to congregate and, in the interests of the health and safety of our community, barbecues, play and exercise equipment in council managed parks and skate parks will be closed for the duration of the lockdown.

Council venues

All libraries (including the mobile library), Caloundra Regional Gallery, Bankfoot House, Venue 114, Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Maleny including the Rainforest Discovery Centre, Arts and Ecology Centre, Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Tanawha, Sunshine Coast Stadium, community halls and venues will be closed during the lockdown. Council’s online library is available. Join for free, to receive 24/7 access to music, magazines, books, online programs and more.

Businesses

Non-essential businesses are not allowed to operate. Cinemas, entertainment and recreation venues, hairdressers, beauty and personal care services, gyms and places of worship will all close. Childcare centres will remain open for children of essential workers. Restaurants and cafes can provide take away or home delivery services only.

Be COVID-19 alert

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.

Visit Queensland Health’s website for the full list of testing centres near you, contact tracing locations

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