December 6, 2021
Queensland will open its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from COVID-19 hotspots from 1:00am on December 13 – four days ahead of schedule.
However, the mandate on who can enter venues remains unchanged. It will still take effect on December 17.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the changes on Monday afternoon.
From next Monday, fully vaccinated travellers from Australian hotspots will be able to arrive in Queensland via road or air.
No quarantine will be required but they will need to have received a negative COVID-19 test result a maximum of 72 hours before arrival.
Anyone who is not fully vaccinated must arrive by air and undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine.
Travellers from hotspots within Australia – ie. ACT, NSW, Victoria, Greater Adelaide and Katherine and Robinson River in the Northern Territory – must also get a COVID-19 test five days after they arrive in Queensland.
There have also been changes to “border bubble” arrangements.
Vaccinated border zone residents will be able to move freely across the border without the need for a PCR test.
However, border passes will be required and they will be valid for 14 days.
Unvaccinated residents will be restricted to travel for the limited reasons that exist now.
International arrivals must be fully vaccinated and return a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure.
They will be required to get a test on arrival and must go into home or hotel quarantine for 14 days.
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Premier Palaszczuk said the State’s cautious approach had kept Queenslanders safe.
“We will live with COVID but on our terms,” the Premier said.
“We must continue to protect the freedoms Queensland has enjoyed throughout the pandemic and the best way to do that is to continue getting vaccinated.”
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said it was a matter of when, not if, the virus began circulating more widely in Queensland.
“We know COVID is coming, we know cases numbers will rise, but we can be as protected as possible by being fully vaccinated,” she said.
“Please make it a priority to protect yourself. The vaccine is safe, effective and free.
“We’ve always said as soon as we reach the 80 per cent target, we will open up Queensland’s borders to reunite families this festive season.
“By announcing a fixed time for the easing to come into effect we can help those families plan.”
She repeated that from December 17 only fully vaccinated people will be permitted to enter pubs, clubs, cinemas, festivals and theme parks and visit vulnerable settings such as hospitals and aged care accommodation.
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