Australia: Queensland authorities extend lockdown till Sunday as COVID-19 cases surge
Sydney: Authorities in Australia's Queensland region have extended lockdown till Sunday as the country is struggling to contain the recent COVID-19 surge.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the cases had risen sharply in the past day, meaning health authorities were no longer comfortable lifting the lockdown on Tuesday afternoon, as previously scheduled, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
People in Queensland have been asked to stay home and abide by restrictions.
The state recorded a total of 15 cases, with two recorded in hotel quarantine and the others linked to the current outbreak in the community, reports the newspaper.
Miles was quoted as saying by the newspaper: "It’s starting to become clear that the initial lockdown will be insufficient for the outbreak."
"So we’re advising south-east Queenslanders in the 11 LGAs that the lockdown will be extended until 4pm on Sunday. That will make it an eight-day lockdown," he said.
The restricted areas are Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Noosa Shire, Redland City, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Sunshine Coast regions.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.