Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.Credit:Getty Images
“Some of them haven’t seen their aunts and uncles,their mothers and fathers. This is going to be a very,very special time of the year.”
Once the 80 per cent target has been reached,unvaccinated people will be banned from a range of venues including cafes,pubs,and hospitals,while restrictions for businesses and fully vaccinated people will ease.
After confusion surrounding whether travellers would need a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to enter the state,state authorities saida standard text message result sent to people under the standard free national testing regime would be accepted.
Meanwhile,the federal government has pushed back the date for international students and othervisa holders from December 1 to December 15, following the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Home quarantine rules:
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Returning Queenslanders and eligible interstate travellers are able to home quarantine now the 70 per cent double-dose vaccination mark has been reached.
People can quarantine at any self-contained dwelling,as long as it has no shared common areas that are accessible by people outside the household.
Travellers will be able to arrive at any Queensland airport,but can transit to another destination only if they go through Brisbane.
People will be allowed to drive to their home quarantine residence,as long as it is within two hours without stopping. Travel can be by private car,a hire car with contactless pick-up or an endorsed transport provider.
People wanting to home quarantine must still:
- Be fully vaccinated (must have had two doses of the vaccine,with at least two weeks between their second shot and their entry into Queensland)
- Have returned a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours before entry
- Ensure anyone else residing in the household also quarantines
- Use the home quarantine check-in service
- Maintain contact records for anyone attending the property
- Get a COVID PCR test at a drive-through clinic,using a private vehicle,on days 1,5 and 12
At 90 per cent vaccinated
There will be no entry restrictions or quarantine for vaccinated arrivals from interstate or overseas at 90 per cent vaccination coverage.
The target is expected to be reached in January.
Unvaccinated travellers will need to apply for a border pass or enter within the international arrival cap,and undertake up to 14 days’ quarantine (subject to review by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee).
Travel for visa holders (pushed back to December 15)
Subject to review,from December 15,fully vaccinated eligible visa holders – which includes skilled and student cohorts,humanitarian,working holidaymaker and provisional family visa holders – can enter Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption.
Travellers must:
- Be fully vaccinated with a vaccine that is approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
- Hold a valid visa for one of the eligible visa subclasses
- Vaccination status proof
- Have a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within three days of departure
Fully vaccinated citizens from Japan and the Republic of Korea will also be allowed to enter Australia. They must hold a valid Australian visa to travel from their home country without quarantining to participating states and territories.