Far North wakes up to ‘new normal’ of Covid rules

From today, new rules apply which will mean that many businesses will be legally required to ask potential customers to prove they are fully vaccinated before they can enter. WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU.

QUEENSLANDERS woke to a brave new world of Covid restrictions, as they will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated in order to enter hospitality and entertainment venues including pubs, cafes, restaurants and stadiums.

Earlier today Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a return to mandatory mask wearing from 1am tomorrow as Covid cases rise in the state.

Ms Palaszczuk said masks will return to Queensland over the Christmas and New Years period in shops, hospitals, aged care, rideshare, airports and on public transport and planes, but were not required for workplaces or outdoors.

She said there was a “dramatic escalation in cases” in New South Wales and – given the borders were open – she needed to introduce measures to keep Queenslanders safe.

“We know with the borders reopening we are going to see cases in Queensland,” she said.

While Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service reported that the Cairns Convention Centre vaccination hub had been busy in the lead up to today’s Covid rule changes, business owners have been preparing for the upheaval.

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At popular Cairns CBD business The Jack Hotel & Backpackers, manager Jay Gwyn said he anticipated it will be business as usual as they checked people’s proof of Covid vaccination.

Mr Gwyn said most of their clientele were reasonable but there are always a few who took exception to adhering to any kind of guideline.

“We will get some people who won’t like it and they will abuse us,” he said.

“They don’t want to abide by the rules.”

Mr Gwyn said hotel staff will manage the Covid checks during the day, while security personnel will be managing checks in the evening.

Queensland’s Small Business Minister Di Farmer said from 5am on December 17, businesses will display a sign at the entrance to provide clarification to visitors about the need to show they are fully vaccinated before entering a premises.

“We know this will be a new normal for those businesses and their patrons and their staff,” she said.

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Queensland Health said that fully vaccinated means a person has had the required two doses of an approved Covid-19 vaccine by December 16.

It does not include a booster shot or a two-week wait after the second dose.

According to Queensland Health, the new public health and social measures include no capacity restrictions on businesses that are only permitted to allow fully vaccinated people to attend.

This means that hospitality venues such as pubs, clubs, taverns, bars, restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets, indoor entertainment venues such as nightclubs, live music venues, karaoke bars, concerts, theatres or cinemas, casinos, outdoor entertainment activities such as sporting stadiums or theme parks festivals – either indoor or outdoor – such as musical festivals, folk festivals or arts festivals activities – either indoor or outdoor – such as convention centres and showgrounds, as well as state government owned galleries, museums or libraries.

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Venues used for private hire will have no capacity limit if people attending are fully vaccinated, but if any people not fully vaccinated attend, Covid-19 density restrictions will apply, comprising a maximum of 20 people or one per 4 sqm, whichever is less.

Unvaccinated people will be able to access essential services including grocery stores, pharmacies, post offices, newsagents, clothing stores, food courts, shopping centres, fast food restaurants for takeaway or drive-through only,

A Queensland Health spokesman said they don’t expect business owners or staff to be the police.

“If customers are refusing to comply and become aggressive, we advise them to phone the police,” the spokesman said.

NEW Covid RULES

FROM FRIDAY

Customers aged 16 years or over must carry proof of their vaccination status and be prepared to show on request.

FROM SATURDAY

Masks will be mandatory from 1am Saturday as Covid cases rise in the state in shops, hospitals, airports, rideshare and aged care and on public transport including planes but are not required outdoors or in workplaces.

EXEMPTIONS

People who are exempted from getting a Covid-19 vaccination include those with medical contraindications and must show this on request.

Unvaccinated people will be unable to visit hospitals, residential aged care, disability accommodation services, and prisons.

BUSINESS OWNERS

Must display the vaccination rules in a prominent location at the entry of their business premises, ask for proof of vaccination from their customers at the time of check-in (this is a legal requirement) through the Check In Qld app.

If a customer can’t or refuses to provide evidence, they will be asked to leave.

If the person refuses to leave the premises and becomes aggressive, staff will phone police on triple-0.

Originally published as Far North wakes up to ‘new normal’ of Covid rules