Rules banning unvaccinated patrons and staff from a range of venues will come into effect on December 17,not at an 80 per cent double-vaccinated rate.Credit:Jono Searle/ Getty Images
Acting Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken has predicted Queensland could hit 80 per cent any time “between December 6 and December 12”.
Asked,on November 9 if the rules would come in sooner if that 80 per cent target was reached earlier,the Premier said “yes they will”,at the time predicting it would likely only be one or two days earlier.
Ms Palaszczuk also tweeted:“Fully vaccinated Queenslanders will be rewarded on 17 December or once we reach 80% double dosed.”
However,the state government appears to have backtracked on its plan to introduce bans on the unvaccinated at 80 per cent.
In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon,Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the rules would come into effect on December 17 irrespective of any early 80 per cent jab rate.
“It is important to note that,regardless of how early Queensland may hit the 80 per cent double-dose vaccination rate,these measures will commence from 17 December,2021,” he said.