QLD to shut borders to Victoria from tomorrow amid coronavirus spike

All Victorians will be banned from entering Queensland from midday tomorrow, and unable to quarantine in the state.

Victorians will be banned from entering Queensland when the Sunshine State reopens its border tomorrow.

While Queensland will allow interstate visitors to return from midday on Friday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the border would remain closed to Victorians and people travelling from Victoria.

“Given the developing situation in Victoria, Queensland is hardening its border,” Ms Palaszczuk tweeted.

“From noon, July 10, visitors from Victoria will no longer gain access or be able to quarantine in Queensland. They will be turned around.”

The Queensland government had previously announced that from July 3 anyone who had been in Victoria in the past two weeks could only enter the state if they went into hotel quarantine at their own expense.

But under the new rule announced today, travellers from Victoria are completely banned from Queensland.

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All other interstate travellers will be welcome to enter Queensland after filling out a Border Declaration Pass on the Queensland government website.

news.com.au understands the online form will be updated this afternoon to offer leisure travel as an option for crossing the border.

Since May, Queensland has had some of the most strict border restrictions in the country.

Queensland Police inspect cars attempting to enter Queensland at Coolangatta. Picture: Scott Powick

Ms Palaszczuk has urged Queenslanders avoid travel to Victoria due to its ongoing outbreak crisis there.

“Queensland residents returning from Victoria will gain access but they must quarantine in a hotel for 14 days at their expense,” she said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said ban on travellers from Victoria was designed to protect Queensland from the virus risk in Victoria.

“We can’t afford to import that risk from other states,” he said.

“For people who have been in Victoria, or live in Victoria, within 14 days, they will no longer be able to travel to Queensland.

“We will strengthen, we will be much stricter, in applying the exemptions and allowing people to travel here.

The Queensland border will reopen to all interstate visitors, except those from Victoria, on Friday. Picture: Scott Powick

“We have seen a number of people attempt to travel from Victoria, and willingly go into that mandatory hotel quarantine where they have to pay for the cost of that hotel quarantine, because they are making the decision that that two weeks and that cost is worth it to get out of Victoria. And so we don’t want that to continue.”

The Queensland government will also introduce mandatory testing for anyone who develops virus symptoms within 14 days of entering the state.

“That will apply to Queenslanders returning to Queensland, as well as people visiting from other parts of the state,” Mr Miles said.

“It will be a condition of the Queensland border pass, the pass that you need to re-enter or enter Queensland, that you declare that if you have a symptom, develop a symptom, that you will go and get tested and if you fail to do so, the fine of up to $4,004 will apply.

“That’s a very significant penalty for people who choose not to get tested.”

Police have warned motorists to expect delays at the Queensland-NSW border when it reopens at midday on Friday.