June 17, 2021
Anyone entering Queensland – from interstate or New Zealand – will need to make an online travel declaration from 1:00am on Saturday (June 19).
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the new requirement, announced on Thursday, would support contact tracing efforts.
“It’s vital that if an interstate exposure site or hotspot is declared, our health experts can quickly contact anyone who has travelled into Queensland from that area,” she said.
“This is the next line of defence for Queensland. If we’re able to reach people quickly, it will reduce the risk of COVID-19 in Queensland and manage outbreaks right from the get-go.
“The declaration is made online and is quick and easy, taking only a few minutes to complete, and operates in a similar fashion to the Victorian system.”
Queensland will introduce green, amber and red areas.
Green means no travel restrictions, amber signifies interstate exposure venues, and red alerts mean a hotspot.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the declaration would need to be made up to 72 hours prior to travelling to Queensland.
“The travel declaration needs to be made close to your travel, to ensure it reflects the most up-to-date advice,” she said.
“Things can change quickly with COVID-19. We’ve seen it time and time again, especially with the evolving situation in Victoria, so travellers will need to check the latest restrictions before travelling.”
Dr Young said a cross-border zone would be re-established so those living close to the QLD-NSW border would not need to complete multiple travel declarations.
“We know there are a number of people living close to the Queensland border who either work or access important services regularly in Queensland or in northern NSW,” she said.
“We want to ensure they can continue to do that without making a declaration each time they cross the border, so we’ve established a border zone to cater for those situations.”
- More information is available online
UPDATE June 18: Queensland has declared the Waverley Council area in Sydney as a COVID-19 hotspot from 1:00am on Saturday. Dr Young said people should reconsider their need to travel to Greater Sydney.
