South East Queensland residents need to continue getting tested and staying at home, if they want the lockdown to lift on Sunday.

That was the message from the State Government on Thursday when Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young announced there were 16 new cases. 

 All locally acquired cases were linked to the Brisbane high school cluster that plunged 11 local government areas in South East Queensland into lockdown on July 31. 

One case reported on Thursday was ‘infectious in the community’ from July 30 to July 31. 

Three cases were infectious in the community for just one day on July 30, while the remaining positive cases were in quarantine during their infectious period. 

Dr Young said the numbers were hopeful but pleaded with people to stay home in order to prevent the lockdown from being extended. 

"This is very encouraging news for Queensland, and the south-east corner have done an amazing job to get us to this position," she said. 

"Please everyone, just think what you could do to just stay at home for the next few days until Sunday because it‘d be really good if we could lift it.

“If we don’t do something really, really, really special in Queensland, we’ll be extending the lockdown.”

Covid-19 compliance checks

Police in the 11 LGAs in lockdown are reminding people to stay home unless for essential reasons. 

Police across the South East are conducting ‘random interceptions’ at various sites.

 “Police are out and intercepting vehicles to ensure compliance with the health directions and we want to remind you that if you’re travelling on the roads you could be stopped at any time and questioned,” an Ipswich police spokeswoman said. 

Vaccines 

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said deliveries would start on Thursday, August 5, of more vaccines. 

"I can advise that we have been working really hard with the Pharmacy Guild and can confirm we are providing 22,600 doses of AstraZeneca to 113 pharmacies over the next couple of days,” he said. 

Deputy Premier Steven Miles also said the Federal Government was bringing forward Pfizer vaccines, with stock that had been allocated for September, now arriving in August. 

"They are not additional vaccines but they will allow for Queensland Health to do more vaccinations in August," he said. 

Ms D'Ath said a total of 112,320 advance doses of Pfizer vaccine would begin arriving next week.