Qld border: Unvaccinated residents to have separate road map

The clock is ticking for unvaccinated Queenslanders, with a second road map being compiled and revelations some restrictions will remain when levels hit 90 per cent.

A second road map detailing specific restrictions that unvaccinated Queenslanders will face is being compiled by the State Government as authorities reveal some rules will continue until the 90 per cent threshold is reached.

And while health authorities could not say when that threshold would be met, they warned that unvaccinated people had less than two weeks to get their first jab if they wanted to be protected once domestic borders reopened in December.

Masks will not be required once the state hits the 80 per cent target, but it’s unclear whether this applies only to people who have been vaccinated.

Speaking from Rockhampton on Tuesday amid a statewide tour promoting the vaccine, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there were about 400,000 people across the state who had not been ­inoculated.

“We know that when you’re at 80 per cent double vaccinated it gives a lot more certainty to your community and you will be able to feel very safe,” she said.

“But at the moment, I’m looking here at central Queensland – 62.9 per cent have had their single dose.

“Those figures are not good enough.”

People queue for vaccination at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre yesterday. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland recorded no new cases on Tuesday, with 56.9 per cent of eligible people now fully vaccinated.

There was a question over whether the message was being taken seriously with long lines at vaccination hubs in Brisbane Tuesday, but far shorter lines in Mackay and Rockhampton.

Warning that the highly contagious Delta variant was “coming to central Queensland, it is coming to our state”, Treasurer Cameron Dick said that some businesses would change how they operated with vaccinations and the only way to ensure you could still go to the pub or see live music was to get the jab. It’s expected businesses will continue having to abide by current density restrictions until the state hits 80 per cent.

Currently, there are no density limits for venues that operate only outdoors, while indoor venues are restricted to one person per 2sq m, or 100 per cent capacity for ­ticketed events with allocated seating.

There is no intention by the government to make it mandatory for businesses to stop unvaccinated people from entering their premises.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said another road map regarding restrictions would be released.

“We’re just talking with businesses now about which of them might like to take up the opportunity to only have workers and patrons who are vaccinated at their venues, and those venues will be subject to the least restrictions,” he said.

“So we hope we can release all of the restrictions on those venues that choose to only have people who are vaccinated.

“Other venues that have people who are both vaccinated and unvaccinated – they’ll continue to have some level of public health restrictions probably until we meet that 90 per cent threshold.”

“But we would prefer not to have to if we can get people to get vaccinated now, then we shouldn’t need those kinds of mandates,” he said.

Queensland Health was unable to say on Tuesday when the state was expected to hit 90 per cent and what would happen if the target wasn’t reached. It also could not say when international travel would resume if the state didn’t hit 90 per cent.

“Once we achieve 90 per cent vaccination, we can live with Covid-19 spreading in the community and managing the virus with endemic public health measures,” a spokeswoman said.

“Before then, we must protect those most vulnerable by continuing some restrictions,” they said.

Until the state hits 80 per cent, restricted numbers at ­funerals and weddings will likely continue.

About 14,000 people received their first dose on Monday.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young made it clear the virus would not discriminate once it made it into the state after the border reopened.

“Every single person will be exposed and is going to get infected,” she said.

The government is considering mandating the vaccine for teachers and mines workers.

It comes as Queensland’s nurses issued a warning that their workplaces would not cope should major Covid-19 outbreaks occur across the state.

A survey of Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union members found 72 per cent of nurses and midwives questioned were not confident their workplace would manage if an outbreak occurred in their region.

The survey of Queensland Health staff was conducted as part of a joint Queensland union Health Needs Urgent Care campaign ahead of plans to reopen Queensland’s borders.

QNMU assistant secretary Kate Veach said the state’s public hospitals were understaffed and underfunded.

Beatriz Perez and her friend Ana Leyun received their second Covid-19 jab during the Premier’s week-long Vax-a-thon and were excited at being reunited with family at Christmas after getting “stuck” in Australia.

“We haven’t been able to see our families in nearly two years,” Ms Perez said.

“This new road map will allow us to travel … and reunite with our family.”

Beatriz Perez and Ana Leyun, both 24, Milton, have both had their vaccinations. Picture: Liam Kidston