People walk through the Brisbane CBD during the three-day lockdown which ends today. Photo: GettyAustralian authorities will end a lockdown of the country's third biggest city today after reporting just one new coronavirus case in Queensland state, easing fears of a widespread outbreak. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the three-day lockdown in Brisbane would end at noon (local time), but residents would still be required to wear masks in public and some social distancing restrictions would remain in place. Officials had imposed the snap lockdown, covering more than 2 million people, on the eve of the Easter long weekend as they grappled to contain two fresh COVID-19 clusters that now comprise 18 cases. "We are expecting a very good Easter," Palaszczuk said, crediting high testing rates over the past 24 hours with enabling the easing of restrictions.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 01, 2021 00:33 UTC