General News
10 December, 2021
Queensland borders to reopen earlier than expected
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced Queensland borders will reopen to domestic hotspots from 1 am, Monday, December 13.
The Premier said nominating a time, and a date provides certainty for everyone.
“Queensland’s Plan to Reunite Families had nominated December 17 as the target to reopen,” the Premier said.
“It is clear we will reach our target of 80% fully vaccinated much sooner, although exactly when is difficult to predict.
“Nominating a time and date provides travellers and businesses with certainty to make their plans and comes four days early.”
As of 1 am, Monday, December 13:
Travellers from interstate hotspots can arrive by road or air
They must be fully vaccinated
They must provide a negative COVID test in the previous 72 hours
No quarantine is required for the fully vaccinated · International arrivals must be fully vaccinated and return a negative covid test within 72 hours of departure
They will be required to get a test on arrival
They must go into home or hotel quarantine for 14 days There are two critical changes:
Travellers no longer have to wait two weeks to be considered fully vaccinated. One is enough
All travellers from hotspots must get a test on day five after their arrival.
The mandate on who can enter venues remains unchanged taking effect on December 17.
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 existing limited reasons. The Premier said Queensland’s cautious approach had kept Queensland 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.”
Minister for Health 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.
“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.
“Reaching the 80 per cent fully vaccinated target means our community is better protected to handle COVID-19 as it reaches further into the state.”
Minister D’Ath said 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.
