Queensland Health on wedding Covid vaccine mandates

Queensland Health has explained its tough stance on weddings as questions are raised around the impact on local businesses and mental health.

Queensland Health has responded to concerns around tough incoming measures for weddings.

Under the new rules, which will take effect on December 17 or once the state reaches an 80 per cent double vaccination rate, weddings will be limited to 20 people if as many as one person attending is not double vaccinated.

There is no capacity limit at weddings if everyone attending is vaccinated.

The response comes as Bundaberg church pastor Tim Lunnon questioned why the same limits did not apply to other events like picnics or funerals.

Pastor Lunnon also called for more communication with stakeholders from the government, saying businesses and mental health were both being affected by a disconnect between government and everyday people.

A Bundaberg pastor has called for more connection between people and the government as tough vaccine mandates near implementation. Pictured: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

But a Queensland Health spokesperson said weddings were events where people were likely to be in close proximity.

“Under the Public Health and Social Measures linked to vaccination status, settings that bring together large numbers of people who tend to interact in close proximity to each other will be restricted for unvaccinated people when we reach the 80 per cent vaccination target and borders open,” they said.

“This is because these settings are considered to present a higher risk of quickly spreading the virus among the community.”

The spokesperson said earlier this year, the government had set restrictions in place for venues and events where there was an increased risk of transmission due to lack of allocated seating, high movement of people and where people may mingle.

“People typically mingle and dance over several hours at weddings, and weddings often have some indoor component,” they said.

“All these factors and activities heighten risk of exposure.”

The spokesperson also said weddings were not the only events being targeted with tougher measures.

Weddings have been deemed a high risk for Covid transmission.

“Other types of private functions at a hired venue also have capacity restrictions if anyone attending is unvaccinated,” they said.

“A private function that has unvaccinated people attending can have a maximum of 20 people or one person per four square metres attend.

“Unvaccinated people will also not be able to attend festivals (entire venue – indoor and outdoor). This is also due to the nature of the event, which traditionally sees high movement and mingling of people.”

The spokesperson said funerals had been deemed not to be among the most dangerous events for spreading Covid.

“Funerals are typically not of the same nature as weddings and festivals, and generally do not have a significant lead time like weddings,” they said.

“Funerals generally occur at short notice and often under difficult circumstances. However, funerals will still be required to comply with occupant density limits and caps on attendees to minimise the risk of transmission.”

The spokesperson said the reason an event like a picnic didn’t have the same restrictions as a wedding was because they were “entirely” outdoor events.

“Private outdoor gatherings such as picnics are undertaken entirely outdoors, which reduces the risk of transmission,” they said.