COVID-19 restrictions Gold Coast: What you can and can’t do

From Saturday tough new COVID-19 restrictions came into force across the Gold Coast limiting social gatherings and locking down aged care homes. Here’s what you can and can’t do.

GATHERINGS of 10 people are banned across the Gold Coast from 8am on Saturday August 29 morning and aged care and disability facilities will go into lockdown.

But there’s no change to restrictions on places like gyms, cafes and pubs where a COVID-safe plan has been approved.

Community sport and larger sporting events are also be permitted to go ahead as usual.

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Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said the cautionary approach meant that any gatherings inside Gold Coast homes of 10 or more people from 8am Saturday, or outside in a non-organised format, had to stop.

DO I HAVE TO CANCEL A HOUSE PARTY I HAD PLANNED?

Yes. You are not allowed more than 10 people in your house, including the people who normally live there. This also applies to outside gatherings such as children’s birthday parties in the park, numbers are now restricted to just 10 people.

CAN MY CHILD STILL PLAY SPORT THIS WEEKEND?

Yes they can, because sporting organisations have COVID-safe plans already approved by the chief health officers. But Gold Coasters are being advised not to attend if they have any symptoms and that those who do attend must adhere to social distancing measures and social hygiene practices such as hand sanitising and hand washing.

WILL I BE ABLE TO VISIT A RELATIVE IN AGED CARE?

No, all aged care residential facilities will go into lockdown, with those who work mandated to wear masks. This also applies to disability care providers. Some exemptions may exist for end-of-life and other compassionate reasons.

WILL GOLD COAST HOSPITALS ALLOW VISITORS?

No, you can only visit someone in hospital if you are the parents, guardians or carers for a patient under the age of 18, providing end-of-life support or a partner and/or support person/s for a patient admitted for care related to their pregnancy

CAN I STILL VISIT THE BEACH WITH FRIENDS?

As long as there are no more than 10 of you in your group.

DO I HAVE TO CANCEL MY WEEKEND CAMPING OR HOTEL PLANS?

Travel restrictions have not been enforced, so you can still travel and stay overnight, but must adhere to any COVID restrictions put in place such as limits on lifts in hotels.

HOW ARE THESE RULES BEING ENFORCED?

The Queensland Government’s update says “if you don’t comply you may be given an on-the-spot fine of $1,334 for individuals and $6,670 for corporations, a court-imposed penalty of up to $13,345 or six months’ imprisonment”.