7-day quarantine on table for international arrivals but Qld stands firm on timelines
Queensland could halve the amount of time international arrivals spend in quarantine without federal approval but is staying firm on its vaccination milestones despite other states moving early. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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International border arrangements, booster doses and the lessons learned from southern states on opening up will be discussed as the national cabinet meets for the first time in more than a month on Friday.
It comes as the Courier-Mail can reveal the state could halve the time international arrivals spend in quarantine without sign off from federal authorities, but the state government is refusing to budge on jab milestones despite other states taking action.
High vaccination rates and social distancing measures are being attributed to the success in NSW and Victoria reopening, as Australia is expected to reach 80 per cent double-dose vaccination within the next two days.
But it’s a warning to Queensland which is lagging significantly behind the average at just 65.3 per cent.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is back in Australia just in time for the national cabinet meeting, having returned from the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on Thursday.
A review of the hospital systems capacity to cope under a Covid-normal situation is also expected to be made available to the premiers.
An update of the Doherty Institute modelling, looking at how specific groups including indigenous Australians and schools will be impacted as the national opens up, is also expected to be on the agenda.
Despite other states putting international travel back on the table, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the same would not be happening in Queensland as the risk was “too great”.
She has also declined to budge on the compulsory 14-day quarantine time frame — despite other states including South Australia shortening isolation stays to just seven days.
Ms D’Ath said it would only be considered when the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) advised, on the evidence, that a shorter period was safe.
But the federal health department has confirmed the Queensland government doesn’t need AHPPC approval.
“The Queensland Government is able to move to modified or no quarantine arrangements as other state and territories have done already … (and) does not require the agreement of the AHPPC,” a spokesman said.
Queensland’s interstate borders will reopen completely on December 17, but international arrivals will be forced into some form of quarantine until the state hits its 90 per cent vaccination milestone.
Health Minister Greg Hunt urged Australians yet to be jabbed to “come and join the club”.
“The critical part is to continue to work together as a nation to open safely. What we’ve seen in NSW and Victoria and the ACT is very good progress,” he said.
“The combination of vaccines and public health and social measures has worked very well.
“We have been able to begin the process of opening up, of families being united, people being brought together.”
A review of the impact of Covid on the hospital systems on reopening cities, and the preparedness of those like Queensland soon to open borders again, will also be available.
“The hospital systems of NSW and Victoria have performed magnificently,” Mr Hunt said.
“It hasn’t been easy, Covid isn’t easy … our hospitals have risen.”
NSW has already opened its international borders to fully-vaccinated returning Australians from November 1.
There has previously been scheduled a presentation on the approaching high-risk weather season.
Mr Hunt also indicated the Therapeutic Goods Administration was continuing to look at data provided by Pfizer for a Covid vaccine for children aged five to 11 years, while Moderna is expected to make a submission to be used as a booster shot in the coming weeks.
He said more than 100,000 Australians had already received a booster shot with the Pfizer vaccine.
Australians are eligible for a booster shot six months after receiving their second dose.
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