Premier provides update on QLD re-opening after PM’s plan revealed
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed Queensland will gradually re-open from next weekend, with dining out, small gatherings and beauty salons all set to return. Check out the full list of what you can and can’t do here.
QLD Coronavirus News
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PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed Queensland will move into step one of re-opening on Saturday, May 16, including gatherings in the home of a maximum of five people.
Dining in at restaurants, pubs and clubs with a maximum of ten people will also be allowed.
Businesses must have a COVID-safe plan in place, and nail salons will also be allowed to open - but bookings are essential.
People will also be allowed to travel up to 150km for day trips while up to 10 people will be allowed to gather outside.
For outback Queensland, up to 20 locals will be allowed to dine out, recognising the low and sometimes non-existent levels of Coronavirus in regional areas.
Those locals will be allowed to travel up to 500km as well.
Stage Two of the Government’s roadmap will come into effect on June 13, and will allow for gatherings of up to 20 visitors at homes.
Dining in at restaurants, pubs, clubs, cafes and RSLs for up to 20 patrons at a time will also be permitted, as well as holidaying within your own region.
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Some restaurants may be allowed to have more patrons at their venue if they have an approved COVID-safe plan.
Under stage three of the State Government’s plan, which would come into effect on July 10, a maximum of 100 people will be allowed at a range of public gatherings.
This includes weddings, funerals, sporting clubs, places of worship, museums, art galleries, open homes and auctions.
The eased restrictions would also apply to indoor cinemas, casinos and gaming venues, libraries, pools and gatherings in homes.
Dr Jeannette Young confirmed that the eased restrictions would not be dependent on how many Queenslanders have downloaded the COVID-safe app, but she urged as many people as possible to use the app.
The Premier said the stages would be assessed month by month, including borders, with Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young acknowledging there would be outbreaks.
“Yes I do (see outbreaks happening), which is why we must if any of us get any symptoms at all, doesn’t matter how minor they are ... if someone thinks I might have it, just that thought, go and get tested,” Dr Young said.
Restrictions could be put back in place for a particular community if there is an outbreak that can’t be managed through contact tracing.
“Big one is this first step, this first stage, that’s a big release in restrictions and that involves the whole of society ... we’ll be waiting four weeks before we go to the next stage,” Dr Young said.
Workplaces who reopen will be required to submit a COVID safe plan to the industry body.
The timeline around schools opening up has not changed, with the Government hoping to have all students back in classrooms by May 25, depending on the number of cases.
The road to recovery will be gradual with the Premier acknowledging there would be some setbacks along the way.
While Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington welcomed the changes, she urged the Premier to treat areas including Townsville and Mackay like those in the outback that have more freedom under the easing of restrictions.
The premier’s press conference comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed his ambitious three-step plan to end Australia’s COVID-19 lockdown.
There were no new cases of coronavirus in Queensland overnight as the number of active cases continue to fall.
The premier confirmed on social media this morning that there were now 45 active cases in Queensland – which means five patients have recovered overnight.
Since the outbreak earlier this year, there have been almost 130,000 tests in Queensland, but Chief Health Office Jeannette Young has previously said she wants even more people to get tested.
There have now been 1045 cases in Queensland, including six people who died.
STAGE ONE FROM MAY 15
■ Gatherings in homes (maximum five visitors, allowed from separate households)
■ Gatherings of up to 10 people for: outdoor non-contact activity, personal training, pools (indoor and outdoor), public spaces and lagoons, parks, playground equipment, outdoor gyms, skate parks, libraries, weddings, hiking and other recreational activities in national and state parks, places of worship and religous ceremonies
■ Funerals (maximum 20 indoors or 30 outdoors)
■ Recreational travel (maximum 150km within your region for day trips)
■ Retail shopping
■ 10 people permitted at any one time for: dining in at restaurants, cafes, pubs, registered and licenced clubs, RSL clubs and hotels - no bars or gaming, open homes and auctions, beauty therapy and nail salons (with register of clients and COVID SAFE plan
■ For the outback, 20 people permitted at any one time for: dining in at restaurants, cafes, pubs, registered and licenced clubs, RSL clubs and hotels for locals only, proof of residence required - no bars or gaming, plus recreational travel 500km within the outback if you live in the outback
STAGE TWO FROM JUNE 12
■ Gatherings of up to 20 people in homes, public spaces and lagoons, non-contact indoor and outdoor community sport, personal training, gyms, health clubs, yoga studios, pools and community sports clubs, museums, art galleries, historic sites, weddings, parks, playgrounds, skate parks, outdoor gyms, libraries, hiking camping and recreational acitivites in national and state parks, places of worship and religous ceremonies
■ Funerals (maximum of 50)
■ Recreational travel, camping and accommodation, including caravan parks (max. 250km within your region)
■ Retail shopping
■ 20 people permitted for: dining in at restaurants, cafes, pubs, registered and licenced clubs, RSL clubs, casinos and hotels - no bars or gaming - indoor cinemas, open homes and auctions, outdoor amusement parks, tourism experiences, zoos and arcades, concert venues, theatres, arenas, auditoriums, stadiums, beauty therapy, nail salons and spas
■ School holidays - drive holiday in your region
■ Toursim accommodation
■ Outback: 50 people permitted at any one time for: dining in at restaurants, cafes, pubs, registered and licenced clubs, RSL clubs and hotels for locals only, proof of residence required - no bars or gaming, plus recreational travel within the outback if you live in the outback
STAGE THREE FROM JULY 10
Subject to further planning and review, intrastate and interstate travel will be permitted and a maximum of 100 will be permitted for:
■ Gatherings in public spaces and homes
■ Dining in at restaurants, cafes, pubs, registered and licenced clubs, RSL clubs and hotels
■ Indoor cinemas
■ Places of worship
■ Museums, art galleries and historic sites
■ Pools and community sports clubs
■ Community sport
■ Gyms, health clubs and yoga studios
■ Outdoor amusement parks, zoos and arcades
■ Concert venues, theatres, arenas and auditoriums
■ Weddings
■ Funerals
■ Saunas and bathouses
■ Open homes and auctions
■ Casinos, gaming and gambling venues
■ Pubs, registered and licensed clubs, RSL clubs and hotels
■ Nightclubs
■ Beauty therapy and massage parlours
■ Libraries
■ Hiking and camping in national and state parks
WHICH AREAS ARE CONSIDERED OUTBACK?
Balonne Shire Council
Banana Shire Council
Barcaldine Regional Council
Barcoo Shire Council
Blackall–Tambo Regional Council
Boulia Shire Council
Bulloo Shire Council
Carpentaria Shire Council
Central Highlands Regional Council
Cloncurry Shire Council
Croydon Shire Council
Diamantina Shire Council
Etheridge Shire Council
Flinders Shire Council
Longreach Regional Council
Maranoa Regional Council
McKinlay Shire Council
Mornington Shire Council
Mount Isa City Council
Murweh Shire Council
Paroo Shire Council
Quilpie Shire Council
Richmond Shire Council
Winton Shire Council
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