LOCKDOWN LOOMS OVER CARNIVAL

Stay-at-home order still on cards as city’s biggest weekend approaches

BUSINESSES face an anxious wait over the coming days as one of the biggest weekends on the Garden City calendar approaches. The threat is “easing”, but the possibility of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing a Brisbane lockdown remains as authorities look for remaining contacts of a Covid case. It comes as bookings from the southeast fill up for Carnival of Flowers.

TOOWOOMBA mayor Paul Antonio has again urged residents to get vaccinated, as the region faces the risk of being “isolated” from the rest of southeast Queensland again.

While the Darling Downs was greeted with good news from the State Government over the latest cluster in the Logan area, the region faces a nervous wait just days out from major Carnival of Flowers events.

Queensland now has 20 active cases, while Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the risk level from Beenleigh cluster was “decreasing”.

Mr Antonio said the Toowoomba Regional Council had contingency plans in place to cater for a local outbreak, but hoped to see big crowds for main attractions like the Grand Central street parade, and the popular Food and Wine Festival.

“Our staff, through the operational wing of council, have been preparing for any potential outcomes,” he said.

“In terms of the community, it would be going back into that difficult period where we were isolated.

“I remember driving down town on Sunday morning, and it was deserted.

“I just hope that carnival is a success, I think we’ll find out that provided Covid-19 doesn’t break out, we’ll have a wonderful carnival.”

In the meantime, Mr Antonio said the latest cases reiterated the need for residents to get the jab as soon as possible.

“What we really need to do is make sure is this is our pathway to freedom,” he said.

“I’d ask the community to come and make absolutely sure that they protect themselves and their neighbours by getting vaccinated.

“It’s straight out common sense to do everything we can to protect ourselves.”

Mr Antonio also paid tribute to Toowoomba’s primary and state health professionals during the pandemic.

“I don’t think we could ask for more from the broader medical fraternity,” he said.