Interstate travellers who develop COVID-19 symptoms while in Queensland are to be required to submit to a medical test or face a $4,004 fine.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Steven Miles said anyone entering Queensland have to make a binding declaration to be tested when they apply online for their border pass.
Mr Miles said the requirement also applied to Queenslanders returning to Queensland.
“Since this pandemic began, we have continuously urged Queenslanders to get tested at the slightest hint of a symptom and they have responded,” Mr Miles said.
“So it makes sense for people coming from interstate or who have travelled interstate to show the same commitment to keeping Queensland safe from COVID-19.”
The Minister said Queensland Health would text travellers to remind them of their obligations and ask if they had developed symptoms.
“To assist travellers to meet their obligations, mobile testing clinics will be deployed to the most popular tourist destinations,” he said.
“We will assess the border pass applications and make sure that areas with high visitor numbers get extra support — places like the Gold Coast and Cairns.”
Mr Miles said the extra measures were rolled out with a new border direction from the Chief Health Officer prohibiting people coming to Queensland from Victoria.
He said anyone who had visited Victoria in the past 14 days would be turned away.
“This applies to everyone, except people needed in Queensland for essential purposes. Queensland residents who have been in a COVID-19 hotspot can return home but will be required to quarantine in a hotel at their expense,” Mr Miles said.
Currently, every Local Government area in Victoria is a declared hotspot.
