Experts say Qld can reopen before 90 per cent vax rate hit, as Qantas postpones foreign travel until February

Experts have revealed when it would be safe to reopen Queensland to international travel and it comes far sooner than the date set out in the Palaszczuk Government’s Covid roadmap.

Queensland is facing a three-month delay in foreign travel after Qantas revealed it was postponing international flights from the Sunshine State due to the sluggish vaccine rollout.

The Palaszczuk Government has said the state will not fully reopen until 90 per cent of Queenslanders are double-jabbed, which is not expected until early next year, but on Friday disease experts said it could be safe to open before that target is reached.

Qantas on Friday announced it was delaying its planned international flights from Queensland until as late as February, six weeks later than planned, amid concerns about the state’s slow vaccine rollout.

NSW and Victoria, where vaccination rates are sitting at 86.5 per cent and 78 per cent respectively, have already relaxed travel restrictions for interstate and international visitors.

Overseas arrivals won’t need to quarantine in both those states from Monday, and health experts believe it’s not necessary for Queensland to hold off until 90 per cent.

It comes as Deputy Premier Steven Miles revealed Queensland’s border checkpoints would not be removed until the 90 per cent rate level is hit, leaving southern holidaymakers and border community residents to face frustrating traffic jams over Christmas.

Infectious diseases expert Paul Griffin said he didn’t think it was necessary for Queensland to wait to hit 90 per cent before it removed quarantine for international arrivals.

The state government this week revealed this would likely be very early next year.

“The need to quarantine from some of those lower risk places could be taken away before that (90 per cent),” Assoc Prof Griffin said.

“The risk is low enough that with some simple mitigation strategies we could potentially allow that sooner.”

Associate Professor Paul Griffin, an infectious disease expert. Pic Annette Dew

He said countries like New Zealand and Singapore could be considered while returning travellers could be tested upon arrival into Australia.

Deputy Premier Mr Miles said it was not known exactly when Queensland would reach the 90 per cent target.

“It’s very hard to predict the 90 per cent threshold,” he said.

“In some jurisdictions, we’ve seen a tapering off at 80 per cent so you can’t just use that.”

Just over 62 per cent of eligible Queenslanders are now fully vaccinated, while 76.5 per cent have received their first dose.

Mr Miles’ comments about the hard border at a press conference at Sea World on Friday drew quizzical looks from Opposition Leader David Crisfaulli.

The first international flights leaving Queensland will now be on January 31 to New Zealand, while the Los Angeles and Singapore routes will open on February 2 next year.

Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“International flights to and from Brisbane are now scheduled to resume around six weeks later than planned with Tasman flights to resume on 31 January 2022 and flights to Los Angeles and Singapore now taking off on 2 February 2022,” a Qantas statement said.

“These changes align Qantas’ flight schedules with the current projections for Queensland to reach the State Government’s 90 per cent vaccination rate target, which is the trigger for quarantine-free international travel.”

Only Western Australia has a lower vaccination rate than Queensland, while the Northern Territory has the same rate.

University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay said people were ‘sick and tired’ of lockdowns and border closures and ‘80 per cent (vaccination rates) is still a good cut-off’ for most restrictions to be lifted.

But he said there were risks in reopening prematurely, saying case numbers had surged in Denmark after it reopened in September with relatively low case numbers.

“The risk is that once you start having more travel from interstate and overseas, those case numbers are going to go up and you’re going to have more hospitalisation and more deaths,” he said.

“I think the more vaccinated we are, the safer we’re going to be. When you’re talking about public health, nothing is overkill.”

Epidemiologist Henning Liljeqvist said he was against state-based Covid controls, saying the Federal Government should be in charge of the response.

He said while NSW case numbers had not soared since the state reopened two weeks ago, it was too early to know if that was the right decision.

“There was always the possibility that case numbers would skyrocket and there still is unfortunately,” he said.

“NSW has either done the right thing or been lucky.”

Qantas is postponing its plans to fly internationally from Brisbane until as late as February. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Dr Liljeqvist said it was ‘a worrying trend’ that Covid-19 infection rates in regional NSW were exceeding those in Sydney.

“People in regional parts of the country, including Queensland, will require more protection through higher vaccination rates,” he said.

From Monday, people arriving in NSW who are fully vaccinated will not need to quarantine if they can prove their jab status and have a COVID-19 test after arrival.

Flights from Sydney to Los Angeles and London will resume.

From next week fully vaccinated international travellers returning to Victoria also will not have to quarantine in hotels, as long as they undertake testing within 24 hours of arrival into Victoria.

Anyone entering Victoria from interstate still needs to apply for a permit. Flights from Melbourne to London will resume next Saturday with more destinations to be added in the coming weeks.