June 30, 2020
The State Government has brought forward the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, including changes at the Queensland border.
From noon this Friday (July 3) anyone who travels from Victoria – including Queenslanders – will be prevented from entering Queensland unless they complete 14 days of hotel quarantine at their own expense.
From July 10, the Queensland border will be open to travellers from other States and Territories who have NOT been in Victoria.
Travellers will have to complete a border declaration stating they have not been to Local Government areas in Victoria during the previous 14 days.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queenslanders’ continued efforts in uniting against COVID-19 had paved the way for the further easing of restrictions.
“The risk to Queensland from travellers from New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory will be limited, given the low levels of community transmission in these places,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
However, there have been more than 250 cases of COVID-19 in Victoria over the past week with sustained community transmission.
“We cannot risk removing our border restrictions for those people coming from areas in Victoria right now. To do so would jeopardise everything we have all sacrificed so much to achieve and could be catastrophic to our entire economy,” the Premier said.
“If there is an outbreak in any State, we reserve the right to review the border again.
“We have come such a long way together, but now is not the time to become complacent. We must all keep up the efforts to protect ourselves, our families and our community.”
Health Minister Steven Miles said the accelerated relaxation of restrictions in Stage 3 would mean a greater return to normality for all Queenslanders.
Stage 3 measures include allowing:
- Private gatherings of up from 20 to 100 people in homes – great for special birthdays and celebrations of milestones;
- Wedding attendance increases from 20 to 100 (and the reception size increases, too);
- Contact indoor and outdoor community sport starts with an approved plan;
- More events, with events of more than 10,000 people requiring a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by the Chief Health Officer; and
- Additional venues such as casinos and food courts to reopen.
“The four square metre rule per customer applies across the board with no ceiling, and no need to divide customers into smaller groups,” Mr Miles said.
“For small businesses, we will relax the four square metre rule, allowing up to 50 customers for a venue below 200 square metres in size, provided they keep a register of customers.
“For example, a 100 square metre café can currently have 25 patrons, with five of them in a separate area; now they can have up to 50 patrons,” he said.
“And patrons will be able to go to the bar to collect food and drink.”
The State Government has also flagged moving from the four square metres rule to two square metres, when circumstances allow.
- External link: The full list of measures under the Roadmap to Easing Queensland’s Restrictions
