8 January 2021 / COVID-19

Construction Remains Essential Service in Greater Brisbane Lockdown

The Queensland Government has announced a 3 day lockdown period for the Greater Brisbane region. The lockdown will be in place from 6pm tonight through to 6pm Monday, 11 January 2021.

The restrictions imposed by the lockdown are similar to those that were in place in March 2020, except now with the addition of mandatory masks.

Hutchies has confirmed that the construction industry is still considered an essential service. Sites and offices will remain open throughout the lockdown period.

However, it is vital that sites and offices are fully implementing the necessary social distancing, hygiene and cleaning measures (detailed below).

Team Leaders will work with their people to ensure they are home in time for the commencement of the lockdown and encouraging working from home arrangements where practical on Monday, 11 January 2021. Take your laptop home with you to be safe.

If you live in Greater Brisbane and travel to a site or office outside of the region, you must still wear a mask and observe the same measures when at that location.

When travelling into Greater Brisbane to a site or office (regardless of where you live), if returning home you must follow the same lockdown rules when you are home. Only leave for the essential reasons and wear a mask when outside.

Face masks are mandatory outside of your home (including at work) as of 6pm tonight (Friday) when leaving home (unless a medical condition prevents you from wearing it). Children under 12 are exempt.

Please ensure you read and follow all directions from the Queensland Government. Also continue to implement and follow all of Hutchies’ COVID-19 measures across our sites and offices.

Hutchies will provide any other relevant updates to you via email or text message if necessary regarding the situation.

Summary of Directions

Greater Brisbane will go into lockdown for three days, while contact tracers work to ensure the UK strain of COVID-19 is not circulating in the community.

From 6pm tonight, Friday 8 January, until 6pm Monday 11 January people in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will be required to stay at home except for the following reasons:

> Work, or volunteering, or study if it is not reasonably practicable to work or learn remotely (construction is considered ‘essential’)

> Shopping for essentials, food and necessary supplies

> Medical or healthcare needs, including compassionate requirements

> Exercise with no more than one other person, unless all from the same household

> Providing care or assistance to an immediate family member

> Child custody arrangements

> Legal obligations

> Visit for end of life

> Attend funeral or wedding in line with restrictions

> Masks will also need to be worn everywhere in those local government areas except if people are at home

> Cafes, pubs and restaurants will be open only for takeaway and delivery services

> Funerals will be restricted to 20 people and weddings to 10, including the celebrant and two witnesses.

> All essential businesses remain open (including construction). If you need to leave Greater Brisbane for an essential purpose, such as to work, to return home or to access healthcare, you should limit your movements for those three days wherever you go.

Get tested

If you have any symptoms at all, get tested immediately and quarantine at home until you receive a negative result.

List of restrictions

The full list of restrictions include:

> No more than two visitors to the household per day (in addition to anyone else currently staying in the household), excluding care workers or volunteers

> All businesses that can remain open must adhere to one person per 4 square metres

> Restaurants and cafes to provide takeaway and delivery services only

> Cinemas, entertainment and recreation venues, gyms etc to close

> Places of worship to close

> Weddings involve a maximum of 10 people, including the celebrant and witnesses

> Funerals involve a maximum of 20 people

> Mandatory mask wearing anywhere outside of your home > No visitors to aged care facilities, hospitals, disability accommodation services or correctional facilities.

Advice

As outbreaks continue to occur, Hutchies is tracking all state and territory updates across Australia daily. All relevant information is being provided to teams in affected areas, and updated on Hutchies’ Toolbox.

If you are unsure about any current restrictions or measures in place (including border controls), or need to know what is relevant to you or Hutchies’ broader workforce, feel free to contact us via coronavirus@hutchies.com.au.

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