Covid-19: Queensland dumps fifth day traveller testing as state records 1158 new coronavirus cases
Queensland has ditched day five Covid-19 tests for travellers after the state copped criticism over swamped testing sites and lengthy wait times. It came as the state recorded 1158 new cases.
Gold Coast
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QUEENSLAND has dumped day five Covid-19 tests for travellers after the state copped criticism over swamped testing sites and lengthy wait times.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the news and said living with the coronavirus was “about accepting that the virus must spread before we arrive at a state of normality”.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said at a press conference on Tuesday morning the day five polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests would not be needed going forward.
Ms D’Ath also announced 1158 new coronavirus cases – but only six people were in hospital and none were in intensive care units (ICU). There was 4779 cases active statewide.
She said only 0.6 per cent of the day five tests had returned a positive result for Covid-19 and Queensland “no longer needs to continue these tests”.
That data originated from a sample of almost 25,000 day five tests in the southeast of the state in the last week.
Travellers filling out online border passes will still have to agree to day five testing until the form is updated soon, but it will be ignored at the border, Ms D’Ath said.
Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said travellers will have already been tested no more than 72 hours before they crossed borders into Queensland.
He said it was evident the day five tests were “not contributing in any way to the safety of Queenslanders” and resources could be refocused elsewhere.
Cr Tate, a critic of the requirement, welcomed the decision to scrap the controversial five-day testing regime.
He said it would help raise confidence in travelling to the Coast again.
“Great news. I applaud the Premier and know the tourism and business sectors will be delighted to hear the news,” he said.
“Covid is here, right across the state, which is what was always going to occur once tight border restrictions were lifted on December 13.”
Cr Tate issued a warning to those yet to get the jab.
“Today is the day that the unvaccinated should seriously consider getting the jab as they are in its sights,” he said.
However, Dr Gerrard said the Omicron variant was not resulting in significant hospitalisations.
“So far we are not seeing large numbers being admitted to hospital,” he said.
The chief health officer urged anyone with only mild symptoms to avoid going to hospital.
But anyone with more serious symptoms such as breathlessness should seek hospital care.
Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said officers were still coming across travellers at the border who did not have a negative test result.
He warned travellers could be forced into hotel quarantine at their own cost until they receive a negative result.
“That’s when our officers will look at these things on a case-by-case basis and make a decision,” he said.
Mr Gollschewsk said some people did get tested in the 72 hours before they entered Queensland, but did not get a result in time.
“This is where you get a conflict between what’s happening and what the legal requirements are,” he said.
He said police would look at “each case on its merits” but “people have the obligation” to make sure they get a result before attempting to enter Queensland.
Additionally, Ms D’Ath announced new public testing sites in several locations across Queensland – but none are on the Coast, despite the city’s popularity among holiday-makers and location on the border.
She said some private testing sites will be reopening after temporarily ceasing operations over Christmas.
IN A NUTSHELL: Hotspot travellers in Queensland no longer need to get a Covid-19 PCR test on day five following their arrival into the state.
Travellers still have to get tested if they develop coronavirus symptoms, or if they are a close contact of a person with the virus.
The online border pass form has not been altered yet – travellers must still agree to day five testing, but this will be ignored at the border.
Fired up health minister slams ‘stupidity’ of Qld tourist testing
Earlier The state government is due to give an update on Covid-19 case numbers and hospitalisations as pressure mounts on Queensland to speed up traveller testing – or dump it entirely.
Queensland’s requirement that hot spot travellers return a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test no more than 72 hours before travelling to the state has put pressure on interstate testing sites.
Additionally, travellers entering from hot spots must be PCR tested on the fifth day of their return, swamping testing sites statewide.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Monday there would be no changes to testing until January 1 at the earliest and the government was looking into rapid antigen tests (RAT).
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has sensationally labelled Queensland’s stance on testing as “passive aggressive stupidity”.
He said Queensland must abolish “tourism testing” to focus on “the clinical needs of patients at risk”.
“Between now and January 1, there can easily be another 100,000 to 150,000 tests purely and simply for people who want to holiday in Queensland,” he said.
“The Queensland Premier wants our tourism dollars on the basis that Queensland is beautiful one day, and perfect the next.
“Sadly, it looks like it‘s moved to perfect one day, passive aggressive the next.“
Mr Hazzard said he had not criticised Ms Palaszczuk previously “but this one is now beyond being allowed to pass without comment”.
A state government spokesman responded: “It is not surprising that the NSW Health Minister is seeking to distract from his many failures overseeing NSW’s COVID-19 response.”
It comes after Ms Palaszczuk announced 784 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, with just four people in hospital with the virus.
On Tuesday, NSW revealed 6062 new Covid-19 cases and one death. 557 people were in hospital and 60 were in ICU.
Victoria has 2738 new cases and four deaths, with 361 people in hospital and 69 in ICU.
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Originally published as Covid-19: Queensland dumps fifth day traveller testing as state records 1158 new coronavirus cases
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