The Queensland Government announced Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Gold Coast, Palm Island and Townsville council areas, including Magnetic Island, would go into lockdown from 6pm Tuesday 29 June to 6pm Friday 2 July.

RACQ CEO David Carter said the Club had taken measures to ensure its employees and members would be kept as safe as possible. 

“Our retail stores, Roadside Assistance, towing and incident response teams, insurance claim assessing, vehicle inspections and repairs teams will continue to operate wearing PPE and adhering to social distancing and cleaning practices to keep everyone safe,” Mr Carter said.

“This will ensure we can attend to stranded members on the roadside and deliver banking services from our stores.

“Our Autoglass replacement stores in Lawnton and Springwood will close, however we’re available to service any emergency glass replacement needs. All other auto-glass will remain open outside of this area.

“Insurance claims is considered an essential service therefore assessing and repair teams will continue to carry out their work within COVID-safe protocols.”

Mr Carter assured members while some services would operate differently over the next three days, help remained available for those who needed it.

“Our members can rest easy knowing we’re doing whatever we can to ensure we maintain our essential services from the side of the road, to meeting their banking needs, or processing an unexpected insurance claim. Our services outside the 13 local government areas named in the lockdown remain available and ready to help,” he said.  

“Our contact centres remain open to take calls from our members and our employees are well-prepared having worked from home for much of last year and during the previous lockdowns.” 

Mr Carter urged Queenslanders to stay home and to stay safe to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

“Only go out if you’re an essential worker,shopping, exercising, or caring for a vulnerable person,” he said. 

“If you don’t need to be out on the roads then the message is – don’t be. Let’s all do what we can to help stop the spread of this virus.”