Coronavirus Melbourne: Qld will reopen its borders with Victoria this weekend

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will again fling her borders open after a troubling outbreak in one state was contained.

Queensland will fling its borders open to Victoria this weekend as the Melbourne outbreak continues to be contained by authorities.

The Sunshine State slammed the border closed earlier this month when greater Melbourne was declared a hotspot, but these restrictions will be eased from 1am on Saturday.

Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young says it’s safe to accept travellers from Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk informed parliament on Thursday morning the state’s chief health officer had given the green light for visitors to safely travel into Queensland.

Travellers from Victoria will no longer be required to complete a border pass on entry from Saturday.

“Queensland is the place to be and, from Saturday, family and friends will be able to visit from Victoria and experience all that our great state has to offer,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

BREAKING: Queensland is set to reopen to Greater Melbourne from 1am on Saturday, 27 February.

It's great news for families and Victorian friends who can once again experience all that our great state has to offer.#covid19pic.twitter.com/Ozgh6dMb5I

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) February 25, 2021

The announcement comes after South Australia Premier Steven Marshall revealed his border restrictions with Victoria will also be eased, coming into effect from 12.01 on Friday.

He said it would come as a “huge relief” for Victorians and congratulated the state on getting on top of the Holiday Inn outbreak.

Victorians currently in quarantine in South Australia will be allowed to exit when that border restriction change takes place and border checkpoints will be removed.

It comes as SA’s chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier announced one new case for South Australia on Wednesday.

But she said health officials “were not worried” about the case as it was an “old infection” in an overseas traveller.

South Australian officials also relaxed rules around dancing, with venues of more than 1000 patrons still needing to use a COVID management plan.

Smaller venues of under 200 patrons can have a dancing area as long as they are abiding by a QR code and COVID marshall rules.

Venues between 200 and 1000 patrons can also have a designated dance floor, allowing 50 at a time.