Canberra’s Covid cluster climbs to four as Annastacia Palaszczuk declares the ACT a ‘hotspot’ - and newly locked down locals are ALREADY panic buying
Canberra has recorded three new cases of coronavirus just hours after it was announced the city would enter a snap seven-day lockdown after a surprise local case emerged.
The three new cases are all close contacts of the Covid-infected man aged in his 20s, who marked the territory's first case of the virus in more than a year.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced the hard seven-day lockdown would begin from 5pm on Thursday.
Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman confirmed the territory's current Covid-19 cluster had surged to a total of four cases on ABC radio.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has responded to the small cluster of cases by declaring the ACT a 'hotspot' starting from 1am on August 14 - forcing Queenslanders to hot foot it back across the border.
ACT residents are set to plunge into a seven day snap lockdown after a confirmed case of Covid-19 (pictured, health workers in Canberra)
Ms Palaszczuk announced on Twitter that anyone who arrives in Queensland from the ACT from 1am on Saturday will be required to enter hotel quarantine for 14 days.
The premier said anyone who returns to Queensland from the ACT between 5pm on Thursday and 1am on Saturday must immediately undergo mandatory home quarantine for two weeks.
The same rules apply for anyone who has returned to the Sunshine State from the ACT since August 9.
Travellers must remain in quarantine for 14 days since their arrival in Queensland or since August 9, whichever is shorter.
Ms Palaszczuk urged any Queenslanders who were experiencing symptoms, however mild, to get tested and isolate immediately.
'All Queenslanders are urged not to travel to the ACT at this time,' the premier tweeted on Thursday.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has responded to the three new cases recorded in the ACT by declaring the territory a hotspot starting from 1am on Saturday, August 14
Long lines were seen outside the Weston Creek Community Centre in Canberra on Thursday just hours after the ACT was plunged into a snap seven-day lockdown
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has warned of harsh penalties for any Canberrans found breaking the strict stay-at-home orders to enter NSW
Meanwhile, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has warned of harsh penalties for any Canberrans found breaking the strict stay-at-home orders to enter NSW.
Mr Barilaro said he had asked Police Commissioner Mick Fuller to 'ramp up' police resources on the South Coast keeping an eye out for ACT number plates.
The deputy premier also threatened a statewide lockdown in NSW if the current cluster in ACT was to spill into the surrounding regions.
'That could become problematic for southern NSW. If that was to breach there then I would absolutely be saying then maybe it is time for a statewide lockdown,' Mr Barilaro told 2GB radio.
'We've got to get tougher. Now's the time to go harder and tighter,' he said.
The deputy premier hinted some of the measures being considered included a 'ring of steel' around Sydney, increased fines, using truck stops to pull up all vehicles and a new permit system required to leave NSW.
Mr Barilaro said the intensified public health orders being drafted would go 'harder than anyone's gone before'.
Mayhem hit the major supermarkets across the Canberra as shoppers rushed to stock up on supplies ahead of the 5pm lockdown
Panic buyers have stripped shelves at Canberra supermarkets amid the city's first lockdown in more than a year
Delivery courier Deliveroo has offered Canberra residents free delivery from 5pm to help ease panic buying in some parts of Australia's capital city
Canberrans have flocked to testing centres across the capital city following the announcement with long lines seen stretching for hundreds of metres outside a walk-in clinic in Weston Creek.
Under the snap lockdown residents are still able to leave their homes for essential groceries and supplies but Minister Barr said the use of CBR check-in codes was 'critical'.
'The virus only transmits when people move around and the objective here is to reduce the transmission that is why we are entering a lockdown,' Barr said.
'It is critical to follow the public health orders over the next seven days, now is not the time to be popping over to mum and dad's or your sister's or brother's please stay at home.'
Queues of customers lined grocery aisles and some lines even spilled onto the streets outside shopping centres (pictured, long lines outside a Bakers Delight in the Woden area)
ACT residents seen queuing outside a walk-in clinic in Weston Creek in Canberra on Thursday
The territory confirmed its first case of the virus in over a year as Minister Andrew Barr announced a strict seven day lockdown would begin at 5pm on Thursday
He also confirmed masks would be made mandatory outside the home with exemptions around health conditions and exercise.
'When in doubt have your mask on, this is essential as a further risk reduction measure,' he said.
Testing clinics have been expanded in Exhibition Park with close contacts being encouraged to get tested immediately.
'We are asking Canberrans to be patient,' Barr said.
With expected longer wait hours for Covid-19 testing times as demand increases.
ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman confirmed the decision came as positive virus fragments were detected in wastewater on Wednesday night.
Dr Coleman revealed a man in his 20s residing in Gungahlin tested positive for the virus after an extensive time spent in the community while infectious.
The man had visited several venues including Canberra outlet centre, a JBHIFI, a pub and a Coles supermarket with all sites considered close contact venues.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr described the initial case as the 'most serious public health risk' the territory has faced in over a year (pictured, people queue outside a walk-in Covid testing centre in Weston Creek, Canberra)
Canberrans are only allowed to leave their homes for essential groceries and supplies, essential employment which can't be done at home and healthcare including vaccination
Officials have been unable to trace the source of the infection, posing the most serious public health risk the territory has seen in over 12 months.
'This is by far the most serious public health risk the ACT has faced in the past 12 months, and that's why the ACT is entering a strict lockdown in response to this positive case,' Minister Barr said.
Minister bar confirmed the territory would act 'quickly and decisively after the outbreak in Greater Sydney.
'We have seen that a short and immediate lockdown limits the potential spread of the virus, and is the best path to avoiding longer and more damaging lockdowns.'
ACT Exposure Sites:
Anyone who visited the listed venues are considered close contacts and must get tested then enter 14-day quarantine regardless of the result
Sunday August 8
Fiction Bar in Canberra City, between the hours of 12am to 4.45 am
Church of Pentecost, 19B Irving Street, Woden, between 10.30am to 1pm
Freedom Furniture, Fyshwick, between 2pm to 2.20pm
TK Maxx, Fyshwick, between 2.35pm to 2.50pm
Canberra Outlet Centre between 2.30pm to 3pm
The Assembly Pub, Braddon, between 9pm to 9.30pm
Anyone who visited Canberra Outlet Centre on Sunday August 8 are urged to closely monitor symptoms and get tested
Monday August 9
Stockade Training Centre, Fyshwick, between 7.30 to 1pm
Tuesday August 10
Stockade Training Centre, Fyshwick, between 9am to 11am
The Urban Pantry, Manuka, between 10.30 am to 1pm
Harvey Norman, Fyshwick, between 11am to 12pm
Wednesday August 11
The North Canberra Business Centre, Mitchell between 11.10am to 11.30am
Companion House, Cook, between 11.30 to 11.45am
Capital Chemist, Kingston, between 12pm to 12.15pm
Coles, Manuka, between 12.15pm to 12.40pm
ACT residents have not faced a lockdown since April last year, which lasted for five weeks.
Minister Andrew Barr said the raft of lockdown restrictions were taken as a precautionary measure due to the unknown source of the positive Covid-19 case.
During the snap lockdown residents are only allowed to leave their homes for essential groceries and supplies, essential employment which can't be done at home and healthcare including vaccination, with the use of CBR check-in codes remaining critical.
General retail will be closed but hospitality venues will be able to offer takeaway service.
Minister Andrew Barr said the use of CBR check-in codes were critical for the territory during this lockdown
Childcare will remain open for parents and guardians who need to undertake essential work or study.
ACT Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry outlined how public schools will work over the next seven days saying, 'If you can keep your children at home, you must keep your children at home.'
Essential workers, vulnerable members of the community or parents unable to keep their children at home are still able to send them to their local public school.
In the meantime public school teachers are preparing for a transition to online remote education.
'That means normal schooling won't happen during this week' Berry said
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RESTRICTIONS:
- Only allowed to leave their homes for an essential shop, essential work which can't be done at home and to be vaccinated.
- Outdoor exercise would be limited to an hour
- General retail will be closed but hospitality venues will be able to offer a takeout service
- Childcare would remain open for parents and guardians who need to undertake essential work or study
- Masks mandatory while outside the home
- Public schools remain open but parents are urged to keep children at home if they are able
Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman and Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry joined Minister Barr at midday's press conference after the ACT government's cabinet met for an emergency meeting earlier Thursday morning.
Canberra has entered a 'pause and assess' period under a plan developed the ACT government amid Sydney's Covid-19 outbreak.
This comes as the NSW Government announced a lockdown for eight additional local government areas overnight.
The seven day lockdown now applies to the following LGAs of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett and Warren.
On Thursday NSW has recorded 345 new cases of and two deaths of men in their 90s - as more suburbs are slapped with harsher restrictions in Sydney's west.
It is the territory's first confirmed Covid-19 case in more than a year