Australia's third-largest city headed into lockdown and borders are set to tighten nationwide after a cleaner at a quarantine hotel contracted the new variant of Covid-19.
The variant, which was first discovered in the UK, appears to be more infectious than other Covid-19 strains more commonly detected in Australia.
More than two million residents in the Greater Brisbane area will have to stay at home for at least three days from this evening, authorities said.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: "If we are going to stop the spread of this infectious strain, this UK strain, we must act immediately." Large queues formed at shops around the city, prompting officials to urge people to stop panic-buying.