Queensland to open borders when 70 per cent vaccinated coverage reached: All the new rules

Queensland has outlined its roadmap to reopen to other states with Covid-19. These are all the new rules that will be put in place.

Annastacia Palaszczuk will fling the Queensland border open entirely to vaccinated Australians from December 17, declaring “we have to reunite families”.

The Premier revealed the state’s “measured and cautious plan” on Monday, setting out the easing of restrictions on specific dates and earlier if the desired vaccine coverage is reached.

Queensland will open its domestic borders to the vaccinated from Covid-19 hot spots on November 19 and earlier if the vaccine rate for those over 16 reaches 70 per cent in the state.

The Premier said visitors from areas of concern would be limited to travel by air and must have returned a negative virus test in the 72-hours before arrival from this date.

Visitors from Covid hot spots will also be required to complete home quarantine for two weeks.

The restrictions will ease again on December 17 when the state is expected to reach 80 per cent coverage, when vaccinated arrivals can come by air or road and will not need to quarantine.

Queensland borders will be opened for Christmas, Ms Palaszczuk said. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

November 19 entry requirements from Covid hot spots:

• Fully vaccinated
• Arrive by air
• Have a negative Covid test in the 72-hours before travel
• Undertake home quarantine for 14 days

December 17 entry requirements from Covid hot spots:

• Travellers can arrive by air or road
• Must be fully vaccinated
• Have a negative Covid test in the 72-hours before travel
• No quarantine required

Entry requirements when Queensland reaches 90 per cent vaccinated:

• Quarantine limited to unvaccinated only

Ms Palaszczuk announced the new “measured and cautious plan” following a cabinet meeting on Monday, leaving the door open for earlier easing if vaccine goals are reached.

BREAKING: Today we’re releasing a plan for Queensland borders.

Travel restrictions will ease when 70% and 80% of eligible Queenslanders are fully vaccinated.#covid19pic.twitter.com/4PANA1CBjF

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 18, 2021

Currently, only 56.6 per cent of eligible Queenslanders are fully vaccinated.

“The faster we are vaccinated, the faster these deadlines will be achieved,” she said.

“It will be really important that Queenslanders do one thing and that is to get vaccinated.

“I cannot stress the imperatives to getting vaccinated because there is going to be a risk of delta outbreaks happening in Queensland and we need to be prepared.”