Brisbane's three-day snap lockdown ended noon Thursday freeing its residents to celebrate the Easter holidays. Health officials have identified just one new locally transmitted COVID-19 case.
The single transmission in Queensland state eased worries of a widespread outbreak and people are now allowed to leave their homes for any reason - but some restrictions remain in place.
Authorities implemented the lockdown in Brisbane, Australia's third biggest city and home to more than 2 million people, earlier this week.
Two new locally acquired cases were reported Wednesday - both of the UK coronavirus variant. This was down from eight the previous day as officials added several venues to potential virus exposure sites.
Easter church services have been given clearance - with the two-square-meter policy to apply and wearing of face coverings compulsory.
Churches may fill to full capacity if they have a ticketed event. The ban on aged care and disability facilities, hospitals and detention centers will remain in place over Easter.
"We're expecting a very good Easter," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. But she said the state was "not out of the woods yet."
High testing rates over the past 24 hours have enabled the loosening of restrictions, Palaszczuk said.
Queensland's outbreaks are "not over...we're not completely cleared yet," Queensland's chief health officer Dr. Jeanette Young said.
The Queenslandwide restrictions remain in place from April 1 and will likely be in force until April 15.
Neighboring New South Wales state reported one new local transmission Wednesday linked to the Queensland outbreak - prompting authorities to impose restrictions until Easter in four regional areas.
Snap lockdowns, border closures and fast monitoring systems have helped Australia keep its COVID figures relatively low. Health officials reported fewer than 29,300 cases of the virus and 909 deaths since the pandemic broke out.
