Queensland Will Lift Interstate Border Restrictions For Vaxxed Australians Before Christmas
International travellers will also be able to quarantine at home.
Alert the family group chat because fully vaccinated Australians from hotspot areas will be able to enter Queensland by Christmas.
In an announcement on Monday afternoon, Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed that the state will reopen its borders to vaccinated domestic travellers when the state hits 80 percent double dose. According to predictions, Queensland will hit this milestone on December 17 — AKA just in time for Christmas.
BREAKING: Today we’re releasing a plan for Queensland borders.
Travel restrictions will ease when 70% and 80% of eligible Queenslanders are fully vaccinated.#covid19 pic.twitter.com/4PANA1CBjF
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 18, 2021
As per the announcement, fully vaccinated travellers from hotspot areas arriving via air or road will not need to quarantine upon arrival after the state hits 80 percent. They will, however, be required to test negative to COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to entering the state.
At the time of publishing, the entirety of the Australian Capital Territory, as well as various LGAs in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania are considered hotspots.
Palaszczuk also flagged that the dates provided are simply an estimate, and that borders will reopen when the state hits the vaccine target. This means that the border could open earlier if vaccine uptake rises — as it did in Victoria and New South Wales.
“The faster we are vaccinated, the faster these deadlines will be achieved,” Palaszczuk said. “It means that some of these dates may come forward if we get the vaccination rates up.
“So if we reach 70 per cent sooner than November 19, we will ease the restrictions sooner.”
Additionally, fully vaccinated travellers arriving from overseas will be able to undergo home quarantine at 80 percent double dose, while hotel quarantine will still exist for unvaccinated arrivals. Palaszczuk also announced that from November 19, when the state is expected to reach 70 percent double dose, fully vaccinated domestic travellers will have the option to quarantine at home.
Once the state hits 90 per cent double dose, border restrictions will only impact non-vaccinated travellers — both domestic and international.
The news comes after Victoria announced last week that it would allow fully vaccinated travellers from New South Wales to enter the state without quarantining.
South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania and the ACT are yet to announce border rules for vaccinated travellers in the lead up to Christmas and New Year. We’ll be sure to keep you updated when that information is made available.