Qld coronavirus: Dancing is back as restrictions ease even further

Queenslanders will again be able to hit the dancefloor inside, and in numbers, as the state’s coronavirus restrictions ease again. It comes as three new cases have been recorded.

Queenslanders, dancing is back.

The State’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath announced this morning that, from noon on Monday, the state can dance inside, with up to one person per 2sq m allowed on the dance floor.

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Her announcement comes as three new Covid-19 cases were recorded in Queensland overnight. All were detected in hotel quarantine. There has been no community transmission now for 86 days.

Ms D’Ath said the Monday start was given to allow businesses time to prepare, with really small dance floors and mosh pits to remain off limits.

“This means we can blame it on the boogie again but we have been working with stakeholders and I want to thank the industry for their cooperation in working through the issues with the Chief Health Officer as to how we can do this,” she said.

“What we want to see is dancing spread out across a greater area inside venues.

“So the rules will continue to be one per 2 square metres inside venues in their usable space and we are still asking people to socially distance.

“Of course people who are coming from the same household and friendship group and families are going to dance together, we know that, but we are asking people to spread out.”

Partygoers will be allowed to dance with someone they have met that night.

Ms D’Ath said seniors would be allowed to line dance in leagues clubs and RSLs.

“These things are really important, socialising, getting out of your home,” she said.

Dr Young reminded Queenslanders of the ongoing risk involved in hotel quarantine.

She said authorities had to remove the ability to provide fresh air breaks in hotel quarantine because of the escalating risk.

She urged everyone to get tested if they have any symptoms and to stay home until they received the result.

There are now 22 active cases in Queensland, which is the highest it’s been since mid-September.

More than 3500 tests were undertaken in the past 24 hours.

Originally published as Qld coronavirus: Dancing is back as restrictions ease even further