Palaszczuk announces new QLD COVID road map: borders to open to NSW, dancing at weddings, standing in pubs
NSW-QLD border likely to reopen from November 1, as happy hour returns to the sunshine state this afternoon.
Queensland will reopen its borders to NSW from November 1, provided there are no more cases of community transmission in the southern state.
On the eve of the state election campaign, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a new road map for the easing of coronavirus restrictions in Queensland.
Ms Palaszczuk said she had been travelling through Queensland this week and people had been asking for the changes.
“Our borders have kept us safe, we’re looking very closely at NSW, and if they don’t have any community transmission for 28 days … there may be a possibility of opening up to NSW if they don’t have any community transmission,” she said.
“We’ll be watching that space very carefully (as they go into school holidays).”
From today at 4pm, people will be able to stand up in bars, restaurants and clubs and have a drink or a meal.
“From 4pm today in Queensland, it will be happy hour,” Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.
He said the seated restrictions had been hard on hospitality workers and the industry.
Stage 5 will kick in from November 1, allowing an increase in the number of people allowed to gather in private homes and public spaces form 30 to 40. Dancing will also return to weddings for up to 40 people, as long as there’s a COVID Safe plan in place.
The state’s new road map says that from November 1, NSW residents and returned travellers from NSW will be allowed into QLD with a border declaration pass and without having to quarantine, “provided community transmission is under control (including whether there have been any unlinked cases in the previous 28 days”.
Stage 6 will begin on December 1, allowing gatherings of 50 people, outdoor events to expand from 1000 to 1500 people, and unlimited dancing at weddings.
Borders with Victoria will stay closed “until community transmission is under control”.
These conditions rely on there being no community transmission in Queensland. If there are, additional measures could be introduced in affected regions, including reducing gatherings in homes and public spaces back to 10 people, increased testing, and wearing of masks.
Ms Palaszczuk said she hoped “this gives Queenslanders confidence to get out there and enjoy their state”.
“We’ve been able to do things more in QLD because we’ve taken those proactive steps,” she said.
LNP leader Deb Frecklington said she welcomed the easing of restrictions.
“What Labor has announced today is no substitute for an economic plan, this is a government that has no plan for the future, and no plan for jobs,” Ms Frecklington said.
Queensland has recorded two new cases of coronavirus overnight; both are maritime crew from elsewhere due to leave on a ship from the Port of Brisbane. Authorities say they have no concerns about community transmission from those cases.
The men went from the airport to hotel quarantine and were tested for COVID-19. They are now being treated in the PA Hospital in Brisbane. Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said there is a low risk those men were in contact with other people in the wider community.
“The risk there to the general community of QLD is minimal,” she said.
The state now has six active cases.
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