No new cases in Qld but deputy PM wants an end to hard border closures

As restrictions ease in Queensland, the state has recorded another day of no new cases, one day after three new cases were confirmed.

A new border battlefront has erupted as Queensland now has only eight active COVID-19 cases and the state recorded no new infections on Monday morning.

Three cases were confirmed on Sunday, one was a returned overseas traveller in hotel quarantine, and the other two were crew members on board a ship off Cairns.

It comes as the deputy Prime Minister is demanding the Queensland Government tear down the border and end hard closures in order to bring the country back together.

Monday, 28 September – coronavirus cases in Queensland:

• 0 new confirmed cases
• 8 active cases
• 1,157 total confirmed cases
• 1,099,835 tests conducted

Sadly, six Queenslanders with COVID-19 have died. 1,141 patients have recovered.#covid19 pic.twitter.com/LNQTsuGYGC

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 27, 2020

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk earlier issued a stern warning about new waves of coronavirus that are “wreaking havoc around the world, claiming lives and ravaging economies.”

Speaking on Sunrise on Monday morning, Michael McCormack said it wasn’t “good enough” that Australians couldn’t move freely within their own country.

“We want the Premiers of those states who have still got very tight lockdowns to ease those restrictions,” Mr McCormack said.

“Because what we need to have are planes back in the air. Planes in the air means jobs on the ground. People want to travel, particularly as we approach these warmer months where people want to go on holidays and they want to catch up with their loved ones over Christmas.

“It’s not good enough that we’ve got tight lockdowns, border restrictions that are preventing many people from travelling where they want to be around this great nation.”

COVID-19 restrictions in Queensland continue to ease, despite pressure from federal politicians to open the state’s borders soon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

It comes as Queensland marks its first weekend of being reopened to the ACT, after border restrictions eased on Friday. Family and friends were able to visit loved ones in aged care homes and hospitals for the first time in over a month on the weekend, as restrictions on visiting also eased.

Further easing of restrictions will come into place from this Thursday, when the border zone is extended to allow easier travel between Queensland and Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes shires in northern NSW.

Double the amount of patrons will be able to sit outside at pubs, beer gardens, and cafes from Thursday, when density restrictions move from one person per 4 sqm to one per 2 sqm.

Stadium capacity will also increase from 50 per cent to 75 per cent, in time for the Brisbane Lions to face off against the Richmond Tigers in Friday night’s AFL qualifying finals.

It has been, pre than two weeks since a known case of COVID-19 was out within the community.