Infectious diseases expert calls on Government to reward Qlders’ for job well done

An infectious diseases expert is calling on the state government to fully reopen Queensland’s domestic borders earlier than planned. VOTE IN OUR POLL

The State Government has been urged to throw open the domestic border earlier than planned to reward Queenslanders who have rolled up their sleeves to get the jab.

Tens of millions of dollars would be injected into the economy if the border opened a week earlier on December 10 which infectious diseases expert Paul Griffin said was safe to do.

The Sunshine State hit the 70 per cent fully vaccinated milestone on Sunday with Queenslanders stranded in interstate hotspots now allowed to isolate at home for 14 days instead of forking out money for hotel quarantine.

If their home doesn’t meet Queensland Health’s requirements, people can also quarantine at a suitable Airbnb or at borrowed accommodation like a friend’s holiday house.

While daily vaccination rates have more than doubled in recent days, Queensland is still expected to hit its 80 per cent second dose target around December 17 – which includes two weeks to ensure optimal protection.

The infectious diseases expert says the state has enough level of protection that it could reopen earlier. Picture: Liam Kidston

Dr Griffin said while it would be ideal to have the vaccination rate as high as possible, it would be safe to open between December 6 and 10.

“We’re not going to see a massive influx of cases (on) day one,” he said.

“People are protected even a small number of days after the second dose to a degree.”

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said the government should reward Queenslanders by opening a week before scheduled.

“We have a level of protection even in Queensland now that should give us the confidence to move on,” he said.

“Even the Premier said we have to learn to live with this virus.

“Everybody has had ample time to decide whether they want to get vaccinated or not.”

The tourism boss said tens of millions of dollars would be pumped into the economy even if the domestic border opened a week earlier.

“We know that when December 17 was announced flight bookings took off exponentially,” he said.

The push for an early reprieve comes as the state hit 70 per cent double vaccinated yesterday afternoon – five days earlier than forecast.

The significant milestone means that stranded Queenslanders and interstate visitors can now apply to enter the state – as long as they are double-vaxxed, return a negative Covid test and have a suitable location to home quarantine.

Those who live in apartments or more than two hours away from an airport are not eligible, but can hire an Airbnb or stay at a friend’s home to get around the restriction.

Staying in a stand-alone short term rental home for 14 days over the November to December period would set travellers back anywhere from $1100 to $4100, according to the Airbnb website.

While those who are stuck interstate with their car will have to wait for the state borders to completely reopen, or abandon the vehicle, with only plane arrivals allowed at this stage.

The Premier is expected to hold a press conference this morning where she will give greater detail on the process for applying for a border pass to home quarantine.

But while daily vaccination rates have more than doubled in recent days, with 23,383 jabs on Saturday alone, Queensland is still not expected to hit 80 per cent until close to December 17.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said there would have to be a “lead in time” for police to prepare.

Minister for Health Yvette D'Ath. Picture: Liam Kidston

“People can start planning now and getting ready, having a look at the criteria,” she said.

“If you are eligible, you can start putting things in place about making sure you’re fully vaccinated and you’ve checked all those boxes so when the system does go live you’ll be able to get that border pass and get on that plane as quickly as possible.”

The minister said there would be multiple checking steps along the way to ensure people are complying with the guidelines.

Health authorities will be able to check the data at any point, and police will be running checks in airports before heading to home quarantine.

“We will be able to check that people are staying in the residence in which they’re required to quarantine and they’re complying.

No new cases were recorded on Sunday after a scare on the Gold Coast last week with authorities still unsure as to where two mystery cases contracted the virus.

Shannon Soper and Zaiella Soper with Minister for Health Yvette D'Ath, after having the COVID-19 vaccination. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms D’Ath said that although no new cases was a good sign, she urged people on the Gold Coast to continue getting tested and to wear masks where it wasn’t possible to social distance.

Ms D’Ath commended Queenslanders on showing a 4 per cent boost in vaccination rates over two weeks.

“Certainly we are well on our way to see 90 per cent of eligible Queenslanders getting their first dose before Christmas,” she said.

There were 2.889 million Queenslanders who had received the second dose by November 13, which had been increasing by an average of 18,260 per day over the past week.

It needs to reach 3.289 million Queenslanders over the age of 16 fully vaccinated to hit 80 per cent.

Shae Ashley, 32, from Dakabin headed to her local vaccination hub on the weekend to get her final jab, saying she was doing it for her family and for her business.

“We run a gym so we really wanted to make sure we were making that as safe as possible,” she said.

“Also, we have family in Melbourne and a newborn niece who hasn’t met our little girl yet so as soon as the borders open we want to get there straight away.”

Meanwhile, acting chief health officer Peter Aitken said despite the Premier’s previous reservations over the current Doherty modelling, Queensland was in a “wonderful” position to learn from how it is applied interstate.

“The Doherty modelling very much at a national level plus broad stroke jurisdiction predictions,” he said.

“Queensland is getting closer and closer to that (reaching 80 per cent fully vaccinated) and it’s how we interpret that and apply that and continue to learn from what’s happening in New South Wales and Victoria. We’re in a wonderful position to do that safely.”