Vaccine mandate for more workers as Queensland ditches masks

More frontline staff will be required to get vaccinated by next month under a new mandate announced by the Health Minister, but public servants are still not required to follow suit.

Queensland can finally ditch their masks after the state hit its 80 per cent first vaccination dose milestone as two new community cases served as a warning for unvaccinated residents to get the jab.

Despite hitting the historic mark on Wednesday the unvaccinated have been warned restrictions won’t necessarily be removed once the state hits its 90 per cent fully immunised threshold, which is expected early next year.

A new mandate was also announced yesterday that would force private health sector workers to get the jab.

As Health Minister Yvette D’Ath revealed public servants weren’t part of the jab mandate, she announced all private healthcare staff including GP and pharmacy employees would be required to get inoculated by December 15.

This will extend to health contractors, third party providers, health professionals and employees or volunteers engaged by external agencies.

“It’s critical that all health workers, including students and volunteers, are protected,” Ms D’Ath said.

“They face a high infection risk, especially clinicians on the frontline.”

The direction will apply to various healthcare settings like day surgeries, GP clinics, pharmacies, optometrists, private nurse offices, allied health clinics, dental surgeries, and private pathology centres.

Two new locally acquired cases were recorded yesterday, including a mystery case on the Gold Coast who was potentially infectious in the community for six days.

Authorities were rushing to determine where that person contracted the virus.

The other case was detected in Warwick but acquired in the NSW border town of Moree where several people have tested positive after attending an event.

They were also infectious in the community for about 10 days.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said while the affected areas would avoid a lockdown for now, the cases served as a “wake up call” to unvaccinated Queenslanders.

“If we see a large community outbreak in any of those areas, we’d have to look at putting in some restrictions,” she said.

“Like I said, we’re quite comfortable at the moment because the vaccination rates are higher than they were two or three months ago, but it’s a wait and see.”

The Premier also warned businesses wouldn’t have a choice but to only open to fully vaccinated customers come December 17 – with the new restrictions to be mandated.

The government this week announced only vaccinated people would be allowed to enter hospitality venues and attend events like sporting games or music festivals from the middle of next month.

While some in the business community welcomed the move, billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer is launching legal action against the government while Brisbane coffee king Phillip Di Bella plans to defy the mandate.

Asked whether the unvaccinated would have more freedom once the state hits 90 per cent, Ms Palaszczuk said not necessarily.

“Australia has the chance and Queensland has the chance, you know, to be … most highly vaccinated places in the world,” she said.

Queenslanders no longer need to wear masks after the state reached 80 per cent first dose on Wednesday afternoon.

However masks were still required in airports and on planes, while passengers were strongly recommended to wear them on public transport and in rideshares.

Giorgia York, Zoe Elves, and Megan Murdoch enjoyed a cold drink at Howard Smith Wharves after Queensland reached the 80 per cent first dose vaccination rate. Picture: Adam Head

Ms D’Ath on Wednesday also reaffirmed home quarantine would be available to anyone who was eligible and fully vaccinated once Queensland hit 70 per cent double dose.

Giorgia York, Zoe Elves and Megan Murdoch said they were happy to abide by any restrictions as long as everything went “back to normal”.

Ms Elves said she was glad she no longer has to carry around a mask

“I will probably try and still wear a mask in venues where I am unable to socially distance and while there are still cases around,” she said.

“I do still get nervous in supermarkets and places like that but I’m glad a mask will no longer ruin my makeup whenever I go out.”