Australia Lifts Brisbane Lockdown in Time for Easter as COVID Cases Dwindle

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia will end a lockdown of its third-biggest city Brisbane on Thursday, just in time for Easter holidays, as only one new locally transmitted COVID-19 case in Queensland state eased fears of a widespread outbreak.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the three-day lockdown in Brisbane would end at noon local time (0200 GMT), but residents would still be required to wear masks in public and some social distancing restrictions would remain in place.

"We are expecting a very good Easter," Palaszczuk said.

But she cautioned that the state, a popular destination for domestic travellers over the Easter break and subsequent school term holidays, was "not out of the woods yet".

"I'm asking Queenslanders for the next two weeks if we all do the right thing, we can get through this together," Palaszczuk said at a televised briefing.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-03-31/australias-queensland-state-premier-says-brisbane-lockdown-to-end