New easing in COVID-19 restrictions to open the State’s borders have been announced for this Friday, 10 July.
Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk said visitors from other States and Territories would be welcome to come across the border, with the exception of people from Victoria.
Ms Palaszczuk said anyone who had travelled from Victoria — including Queenslanders — were now prevented from entering Queensland unless they quarantined at a hotel at their own expense for two weeks.
She said that within the State, more people would be allowed to gather in more places and hold more events.
“We have seen more than 250 cases of COVID-19 in Victoria over the past week and there is sustained community transmission there,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We cannot risk removing our border restrictions for those people coming from areas in Victoria right now. To do so would jeopardise everything we have all sacrificed so much to achieve and could be catastrophic to our entire economy.”
The Premier said the risk to Queensland from travellers from NSW, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the ACT would be limited, given the low levels of community transmission in these places.
“We committed to open the borders on 10 July. We are doing that, but in a responsible way,” she said.
Minister for Health, Steven Miles said the accelerated relaxation of restrictions would collectively mean a greater return to normality for all Queenslanders.
“For small businesses like restaurants and cafes, for couples getting married, for young people wanting to celebrate their 21st at home, for community sporting teams and their spectators, for sports fans, museum goers and event managers, life has gotten easier,” Mr Miles said.
