Premier announces Queensland border to reopen for Christmas

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has released Queensland’s COVID Vaccination Plan for the next stages of the pandemic.

Key features include greater freedoms for those who are fully vaccinated including being able to cross the border from interstate hotspots in time for Christmas.

According to the Premier, this will be achieved in cautious and measured stages once 70 and 80% of eligible Queenslanders are double-dosed.

The Premier said how quickly these milestones are achieved depends on how quickly Queenslanders come forward to be vaccinated and the milestone dates could be brought forward if vaccination rates improve against the forecasts.

“The more of us who are vaccinated, the sooner we are safely reunited with friends and family interstate and overseas,” the Premier said.

Key milestones

At 70% of Queensland’s eligible population fully vaccinated (expected on November 19)

Anyone who has been in a declared domestic hotspot in the previous 14 days can travel into Queensland provided:

• They are fully vaccinated
• Arrive by air
• Have a negative COVID test in the previous 72 hours
• Undertake home quarantine for 14 days

Direct international arrivals into Queensland will have to complete 14 days quarantine in Government-nominated facility.

International arrivals who arrive via another state or territory will have to quarantine in a Government-nominated facility until 14 days have passed since they arrived into Australia.

At 80% of Queensland’s eligible population fully vaccinated (expected on December 17)

Travellers from an interstate hotspot can arrive by road or air provided:

• They must be fully vaccinated
• They must have a negative COVID test in the previous 72 hours
• No quarantine required

Direct international arrivals can undertake 14 days (subject to review by AHPPC) home quarantine and subject to conditions set by Queensland Health provided they are:

• Fully vaccinated
• Have a negative COVID test in previous 72 hours

Those who don’t meet these criteria will need to enter within Queensland’s international arrivals cap and quarantine in a Government-nominated facility, just like now.

Those arriving via other states and territories won’t need to quarantine if they are:

• Fully vaccinated
• Have undertaken at least 14 days (subject to AHPPC review) of quarantine under the direction of another state or territory at home or in a government-nominated facility.

Those who don’t meet the criteria to arrive via another state or territory will need to apply for a border pass and undertake up to 14 days (subject to review by AHPPC) quarantine in a government-nominated facility.

It is important for businesses to know, at 80% vaccination coverage, there will not be government financial assistance available in the event of increased restrictions or lockdowns.

At 90% of Queenslanders fully vaccinated

• No entry restrictions or quarantine for vaccinated arrivals from interstate or overseas
• Unvaccinated travellers will need to apply for a border pass, or enter within the international arrivals cap, and undertake up to 14 days (subject to review by AHPPC) quarantine

As of today:

• 72.26% of Queenslanders have had one dose
• 56.58% are fully vaccinated

The Premier also reminded the public that people who are fully vaccinated are 86% less likely to catch COVID and pass it on and if you are fully vaccinated your chance of dying from COVID-19 falls by 90%.