Millions of residents in the city and several other areas will start a three-day stay-at-home order from Saturday afternoon.

Brisbane, Australia’s third largest city, and other parts of Queensland will begin a rapid lockdown for COVID from Saturday as the authorities are racing to contain the emerging delta strain.

State Lieutenant Governor Steven Myers said that starting Saturday afternoon, millions of residents in the city and several other areas will be required to stay at home for three days.

Myers said: “The only way to overcome the pressure of the delta is to move fast, fast and strong.”

Myers said that Queensland now has seven cases of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, mainly related to a student, her family and a mentor, but the authorities are still working to trace the source of the epidemic.

In the “strictest lockdown” imposed by the city, residents can only leave their homes for necessary reasons, including buying groceries and exercising.

Brisbane’s rapid lockdown comes as Australia’s largest city Sydney and its surrounding areas have completed the fifth week of lockdown. The authorities are working hard to prevent the spread of the Delta-type epidemic.

“We can’t be complacent because we have done well so far. We must all abide by these restrictions,” Myers said.