Coronavirus Qld: Renewed warning on eve of border shake-up
All Victorians will be banned from Queensland – and cannot go into quarantine here – and returning Queenslanders will be forced to pay for 14-days hotel quarantine as the Premier announced a raft of tough new measures in a bid to stop southerners fleeing the Melbourne lockdown.
QLD Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
QUEENSLAND Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced even stronger border measures, banning visitors from Victoria altogether in a bid to stop southerners fleeing the Melbourne lockdown.
And, as the outbreak worsens in the south, Victorians will even be banned from going into quarantine here and returning Queenslanders will be forced to pay for 14-days quarantine in a hotel.
“Given the developing situation in Victoria, Queensland is hardening its border,” said the Premier.
‘Lengthy’ delays for drivers at border
What you need to know to cross in Qld on Friday. Police guide
“From noon, July 10, visitors from Victoria will no longer gain access or be able to quarantine in Queensland. They will be turned around.”
Ms Palaszczuk said there would be exemptions for Queenslanders returning from Victoria for essential specialist workers, as well as for health, legal or compassionate grounds, but they must quarantine for a period of 14 days at their own expense.
“It is strongly recommended that Queenslanders do not travel to Victoria,” she said.
“Queensland residents returning from Victoria will gain access but they must quarantine in a hotel for 14 days at their expense.”
Any other visitor from Victoria will be turned around at the border.
This includes people from other states who visited Victoria in the 14 days before they try to come into Queensland.
Truck drivers will be required to travel with a border pass that will need to be renewed every seven days.
Police deputy commissioner Steve Gollschewski said some Victorians had attempted to enter Queensland, preferring to opt for two weeks in quarantine in the Sunshine State rather than six weeks in lockdown in Melbourne.
‘That won’t be an option any longer,” he said.
Up to 1000 people have reportedly been turned around at the border already.
Dep Comm Gollschewski said more than 238,000 border declaration passes had been filled out since the new measure came into effect.
“That indicates to us that over 238,000 people are intending to come to Queensland in the next week,” he said.
“That is a lot of people.
“That will mean that we will see congestion and delays.”
He also confirmed nearly 200 people who had arrived into Queensland via airports had been put into hotel quarantine after coming out of a COVID hot spot.
There were also 15 people who had been put into quarantine after arriving at the road border.
It is understood the majority of those people are Queenslanders returning from the Garden State.
“I expect that with the new restrictions that have been announced today that there will be further people turned around,” Mr Gollschewski.
“So the message to people coming out of Victoria is really, very clear – unless you have an exemption, unless you are a returning resident, do not come to Queensland.”
Mandatory testing will also be introduced for anyone entering the state who has developed coronavirus symptoms within 14 days of arriving in Queensland.
Health Minister Steven Miles confirmed this would apply to everyone, including Queenslanders returning from interstate.
“It will be a condition of the Queensland border pass - the pass that you need to re-enter or enter Queensland - that you declare that if you have a symptom, develop a symptom that you will go and get tested,” he said.
“And if you fail to do so, the fine of up to $4,004 will apply.
“That’s a very significant penalty...”
He said the Government would make it “as easy as possible” for people to understand the requirements and get the relevant health checks.
People visiting the state will be sent an SMS during their stay to make sure they are complying with the tough laws.
It comes as Melbourne plunges into its second lockdown of the COVID-19 outbreak, while the rest of the nation is ready to be welcomed back to Queensland
Mr Miles and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young confirmed there have been no new cases overnight as they announced new measures to protect Queenslanders from COVID-19.
Tuesday’s single new case was the first in 11 days for Queensland, and the state now has just two active cases remaining out of 1068 cases in total – in contrast with Victoria, which gained another 131 cases on Wednesday, bringing its total to 2942 .
It means that while the Queensland borders reopen to the rest of the country, tight restrictions will be in place for anyone trying to leave the Garden State.
But the new checks mean everyone seeking to cross into Queensland will face lengthy delays, regardless of where they’re coming from.
Thousands of motorists are expected to cross the Queensland border when it reopens at noon on Friday and NSW Police is urging drivers to be patient and prepare for a “heavily delayed” journey.
On Monday, Ms Palaszczuk warned drivers could expect a delayed journey thanks to the “very strong measures” the government had put in place.
“There will be delays at our borders because we have to get this right and we have to take these precautions,” she said.
“I’ve asked people to think about the way they plan their holidays and trips and consider not going at the peak times and spreading it over a number of days. But we do expect over the weekend that there will be lengthy delays.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian had previously taken a swipe at Queensland for closing its borders, labelling it “ridiculous” and that it “doesn’t help Australia”.
She’s since changed her tune – based on the latest health advice – and has shut down the NSW and Victorian border as the southern state continues to grapple with its own coronavirus crisis.