New COVID-19 hot spots found in NSW
There are fears of more chaos at Gold Coast border crossings after sudden changes to rules were announced banning travellers from Sydney hot spots. FOLLOW THE LATEST
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COMMUTERS looking to pass through the Queensland border can expect long wait times and longer queues after a change to restrictions was announced earlier today.
Parts of New South Wales have been declared COVID-19 hot spots, including parts of inner Sydney.
In an announcement this morning Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said from noon today the hotspot declarations meant those who had been in a COVID-19 hotspot within the last 14 days will no longer be able to quarantine in Queensland and will be turned away at the border.
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The orders apply to everyone who has been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the past 14 days, except people needed in Queensland for essential purposes.
Queenslanders who have been in these hot spots are allowed to return home, but must quarantine in government provided accommodation.
Tweed MP Geoff Provest said he expected traffic lines to rival those of last fortnight when the restrictions once against changed with only a few hours’ notice.
While Mr Provest said he believed police were still figuring out the specifics, those with NSW number plates could be asked to produce receipts and records to prove they had not been in a hotspot.
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“It’s a system which is going to rely on honesty … although there are intense fines for those caught lying,” he said.
“I think today is going to be a disaster.
“The thing is, someone living in Tweed could have gone to Sydney for the weekend. It’s relying on people’s honesty and a large percentage do the right thing but some haven’t.”
Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said Queensland Police would now ramp up their checks to cover vehicles not just with Victorian number plates but also all those from NSW.
“We will certainly be scrutinising NSW-registered vehicles heavily,” he said.
“The Liverpool and Campbellton LGAs (local government areas) cover about 77 suburbs and there is no way of telling if a vehicle with NSW plates is from one of those areas without pulling them over and checking.
“It will mean more congestion and delays at the border – there’s just no way around it unfortunately.”
Supt Wheeler said the Queensland border pass would likely be updated to include a declaration that travellers had not been in the two Sydney hot spots in the past 14 days.
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PARTS of New South Wales have been declared COVID-19 hot spots, just days after the border into Queensland reopened.
In an announcement this morning Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said parts of inner Sydney had made it to the list, from midday today.
These include the local government areas of Liverpool and Campbelltown, which cover 77 suburbs.
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The hotspot declarations mean those who have been in a COVID-19 hotspot within the last 14 days will no longer be able to quarantine in Queensland and will be turned away at the border.
The hotspot orders apply to everyone who has been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the past 14 days, except people needed in Queensland for essential purposes.
Queenslanders who have been in these hot spots are allowed to return home, but must quarantine in government provided accommodation.
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The news comes as an outbreak of the potentially deadly virus was found at the Crossroad Hotel in Casula, NSW, where 21 cases have been linked to the restaurant.
Health workers say they are now looking to confirm if 18 Queenslanders who visited the hotel during the major infection period had also contracted the virus.
BREAKING: From midday, New South Wales local government areas of Liverpool and Campbelltown will be declared COVID-19 hotspots. @StevenJMiles #COVID19Aus pic.twitter.com/uW9EiVWy4R
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 13, 2020
Contact tracing is currently underway. Those who visited the hotel from July 3 to July 10 are asked to get tested and isolate immediately.
No new cases were found in Queensland in the past 24 hour period. There are currently four 4 active infections in the state, all of which were found while the individual was in quarantine.
PLANS TO LOCK UP BORDER JUMPERS
The Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles has today announced tougher penalties for those attempting to sneak into the state.
On top of hefty fines, measures to lock up those breaking Covid-19 rules for a maximum of six months will be introduced.
“Right now the maximum penalty on the spot for breaching our public health orders is $4003,” Minister Miles said.
“But in some cases that fine appears not to be a sufficient penalty, perhaps people from other states feel they might be able to get away without having to pay for it, perhaps people think $4000 is worth it to come to Queensland.
“So this week we will move amendments that will allow us to apply a penalty of imprisonment of those health directions.
“I hope that will demonstrate to the public just how serious we are about enforcing these measures.”
COAST CLUBS FEAR BEING CLOSED AGAIN, PLEAD FOR CHANGE
AN operator of multiple Gold Coast nightclubs says if patron restrictions inside were eased venues could better control queues outside.
There are fears nightclubs could be forced to close again just after being allowed to reopen due to alarm at crammed patron lines outside venues.
A number of Brisbane nightclubs in Fortitude Valley were spotted flouting social distancing rules at the weekend, with health officials saying they were playing “Russian roulette” with their families’ lives. Clubs on the Gold Coast also had queues.
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The move comes as Queensland’s border opens to all states except Victoria, which today recorded 270 new cases.
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