Queensland records no new Covid cases as QR codes become mandatory for taxis, Ubers
Queensland has recorded no new cases of Covid in the past 24 hours as Deputy Premier Steven Miles slams a protest at the border today as “reckless and shameful”.
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Deputy Premier Steven Miles has slammed people protesting at the Queensland border with NSW as the state records another day of no new Covid cases.
In recent days, protests have been held at the NSW border over restrictions locking border communities and unvaccinated essential workers out of Queensland.
Another border protest is unfolding today, while an anti-lockdown protest was held in Brisbane on Saturday.
Mr Miles labelled the protests as “shameful and reckless”.
“(The protests) are very un-Queensland like,” he said.
“We have gotten through this because Queenslanders do the right thing. We’ve kept each other safe.
“I’ve been to a lot of protests, I’ve organised a lot of protests, I love a good protest, but now is not the time for protests, particularly on the border.
“The border is our riskiest place right now. We have to see the situation in NSW the same way we’ve seen the situation in other countries throughout this pandemic.
“By having a protest there they put the safety of our police at risk, they put their own safety at risk and they put the safety of the community at risk.
“Frankly I’m pretty disgusted.”
Mr Miles also made no apologies for unvaccinated essential workers being refused entry to Queensland.
Mr Miles said yesterday 2715 vehicles were intercepted at the border, with 142 turned away and 12 essential workers denied entry because they were not vaccinated.
“Being permitted to cross the border when we have the strictest borders in place is a privilege,” Mr Miles said.
“And I think anyone who expected to be able to access that privilege should be able to get vaccinated – it’s not too much to ask.”
It comes as the State Government announces that taxis and ride share vehicles will be required to have QR codes so passengers can check-in in a move to further strengthen contact tracing capabilities.
There are only 39 active cases in the state and 970 in home quarantine following the Indooroopilly Delta cluster.
Mr Miles said 20,000 taxis, limousines and ride share vehicles would be required to have QR codes from August 30.
Mr Miles said the State Government’s Covid check-in app had been key in stopping outbreaks in Queensland.
He said more than 3 million people had signed in using the app since it was launched.
More than 184,000 businesses were using QR codes to identify who had been at certain venues.
He said the stricter border restrictions with NSW were working with a dramatic reduction in the number of vehicles crossing into Queensland.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr James Smith said Queensland Health continued to monitor the Covid situation in other states, particularly New South Wales.
Originally published as Queensland records no new Covid cases as QR codes become mandatory for taxis, Ubers
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