Just last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was objecting to the media's use of the word lockdown to describe limits being placed on the movements and social interactions of Australians amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Queensland COVID-19 snapshot: Confirmed cases so far: 1,150

Confirmed cases so far: 1,150 Deaths: 6

Deaths: 6 Tests conducted: 1,037,189 Active cases: 27 Latest information from Queensland Health.

But the much stricter Home Confinement Direction that came into effect from last Monday is essentially a lockdown that demands Australians remain at home when not undertaking one of a small list of permissible activities.

There is confusion, and even for those in charge the rules have not been entirely clear, but here is what you need to know:

What is the lockdown?

Under the Queensland Home Confinement, Movement and Gathering Direction in force until at least May 19, you must remain in your home — unless you're going out for a "permitted purpose".

You can shop for essentials like food, hardware supplies — or jigsaw puzzles, according to Mr Morrison.

You can seek medical treatment or health care.

You can work and study at outside locations if it is not possible to do that at home.

If your workplace is not one of those listed by the State Government for shutdown, it is considered an essential business that can keep trading through the pandemic.

Most Brisbane shopping centres have been virtually devoid of shoppers this week. ( ABC News: Lexy Hamilton-Smith )

Are there other exceptions?

You can give "care, assistance or support" to an immediate family member.

That would likely include babysitting, although people over 60 have been urged to self-isolate.

You can go to court or attend somewhere other than your home to comply with court orders, or for an emergency.

You can take your kids to childcare or school.

You can visit a terminally ill relative.

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You can go to a funeral — so long as no more than nine other people are there with you.

You can go out to exercise and can now visit a friend or a relative at home, along with no more than one other person.

The original home-confinement direction indicated one visitor only.

It set out that "more than two persons who are not members of the same household" are not allowed to gather "in any place except for permitted purposes".

But on Thursday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk flagged a change in the rules to allow two visitors.

The new rules now state that people "may allow up to two visitors who are not ordinarily members of the person's household".

People must encourage visitors to "practise social distancing to the extent reasonably practicable".

Workers such as tradespeople can enter and are not counted as visitors.

However, the ban on more than two people gathering in public stands.

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What counts as exercise?

There are a number of options other than walking, jogging, or riding a bike.

Going on a solo motorcycle ride counts as exercise, according to the Queensland Health Minister's office.

A senior NSW police officer said a mother sitting on grass in a park while her children crawl would count as exercise, although police have not spelled that out in Queensland.

Walking and jogging is fine, so long as you keep your distance.

Who can I go out with?

You can leave home to exercise with one other person not in your household.

But you have to observe social distancing, also known as physical distancing, rules by keeping at least 1.5 metres apart and limiting any exposure to potential infection through cough or sneeze droplets.

You can go out with members of your household, however many there are. As you are already assumed to be in close contact, social distancing rules do not apply between people living under the same roof.

Is my household different to my family?

Yes. Your household is made up of the people you live with.

Which means they don't have to be flesh and blood.

Can I go out fishing?

The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has backflipped on a fishing ban.

It told the ABC if you are heading out in a tinnie to catch fish or crabs, this qualifies as going out to get essential supplies.

Can I sit on a beach?

Yes, if you have gone to the beach to exercise while practising social distancing.

It's not illegal to be on the beach, but being in a group of more than two is prohibited. ( AAP: Scott Barbour )

That's distinct from the mass gatherings authorities are trying to prevent to limit transmission of COVID-19.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged people to go to the beach only if they live nearby.

But there is nothing in the directions to specify how far people are allowed to travel when leaving their homes for permitted purposes.

Who can visit me?

This is where things have been a little confusing.

The home-confinement direction indicates one visitor only.

It sets out that "more than two persons who are not members of the same household" are not allowed to gather "in any place except for permitted purposes".

That indicates a limit of one visitor to a home only.

But yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk indicated two visitors might be permitted.

"It is your responsibility if you have one person or two people into your home, that social distancing is observed and you're not breaching the rules."

Can my partner or child visit?

Initially, it was thought the answer was no.

However, the Health Minister's office has told the ABC if a partner routinely stayed several nights a weekend then that could continue as it was a normal living arrangement.

Ms Palaszczuk went further: "If your son wants to bring their girlfriend over and you know their girlfriend, that's fine."

She said the point was not to "invite strangers into your home" and to "shrink your world" and limit "extra contact" to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

"If then that girlfriend wants to bring another friend that you don't know, that's a stranger to your house," the Premier said.

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Do you listen to the Premier or the Chief Health Officer?

Good question. Legal experts say there is a gap between what authorities are saying and what the public health directions have stated.

Both Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Michael Cope and immediate past Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts have said that under the letter of the law a girlfriend or boyfriend probably cannot stay.

Similarly, you probably don't need to go fishing in a tinnie when you can buy fish from a supermarket.

The legal experts have said for this reason the directions should be rewritten to spell out more clearly what you can and cannot do.

"If the government expects people to obey the law, the law must be clear. It must not depend upon the exercise of a discretion by a police officer."

What will the police do?

Both the Premier and the Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll have singled out "house parties" as being a very bad idea and prohibited under the latest restrictions.

"Where we have had some issues in the past two weeks is on the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of March, police attended 600 noisy parties," Commissioner Carroll said on Monday.

"This went up significantly the last weekend to 900."

Clearly throwing any sort of party is now against the rules.

Senior police have said they understand there is confusion, which is why they will be exercising discretion.

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said officers would not be "going door-to-door to check on random residences for compliance".

He said they would take action in the face of "blatant or wilful breaches".

They can fine you $1,334.50 on the spot for breaching the health directions.

However, if you think you have been unfairly fined, the adjournment of most Queensland Magistrates Court matters means you could not fight the decision legally for at least another three months.