Home Covid-19 quarantine trial set to expand in Queensland
Queensland is preparing to expand its home quarantine trial to fully vaccinated travellers from interstate hot spots as Victoria launches its own pilot program.
Queensland is preparing to expand its home quarantine trial to fully vaccinated travellers from interstate hotspots, as Victoria launches its own pilot program.
Senior Palaszczuk government sources have confirmed the state is expected to widen its trial within weeks to allow more Queensland residents to return and quarantine in their own homes.
The first wave of Queensland’s home quarantine trial began this week, allowing boarders from schools in hotspot states to come home in time for the September holidays.
Authorities are trialling interactive text message system Whispir to monitor the children’s compliance in quarantine.
The communication platform has previously been used in Victoria.
“It is the next logical step,” one insider told The Australian.
“During the last outbreak there were like 10,000 close contacts in home quarantine and that went really well.”
Hundreds of Victorians stranded in NSW will be allowed to quarantine at home as part of the state’s home quarantine pilot program.
Health Minister Martin Foley said more than 200 people who had been inside the border bubble since August 25 would be allowed to isolate themselves at home.
Last month, South Australia became the first state to trial home quarantine and will soon start to accept double vaccinated international arrivals.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison plans to write to state and territory leaders this week, asking for timelines on home quarantine introduction.
“For international travel to work, we need home quarantine done,” he said.
“Home quarantine is where we go next and the length of that quarantine also is what we’re looking at.”
Queensland’s planned home quarantine expansion comes in the face of pressure over its decision to allow a plane full of footballers’ wives and girlfriends into the state during a pause on hotspot arrivals.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath was also forced to defend “false claims” the state had left Australia’s Afghan rescue troops waiting in the Middle East because of a delay in granting exemptions to hotel quarantine.
During a fiery press conference, Ms D’Ath said she had tried to contact Peter Dutton for an explanation – to no avail.
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