Queensland to ease restrictions from Friday
"It has now been an entire week since Queensland last recorded a locally acquired case of COVID-19, encouraging the state's health authorities to wind back some restrictions on gatherings and hospitality from this Friday."
However, unlike Victoria, Queensland will not be closing its border to the entirety of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Sydney grew rapidly over the weekend.
Queensland health authorities have decided from 6am Friday 16 July masks will only be required to be worn on airports and on planes, there will be no more restrictions on hospitals and aged care facilities, and dancing is once again permitted.
Further, homes gatherings can have unrestricted numbers of attendees on the condition that details be kept if numbers exceed 100, and pubs, clubs and cafes can increase patron numbers to three per four square metres.
"We can't say we're totally free of any risk going forward," QLD chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young said.
"As long as everyone who is out there in home quarantine remains in home quarantine and has an exit test on day 12, then we can be very confident that we don't have any transmission in the community."
Deputy Premier Steven Miles has urged Queenslanders still in New South Wales to return home, noting that a total border closure to all of NSW and the ACT is unnecessary now as cases remain contained to Greater Sydney.
"Sydney continues to be the greatest national concern and we will monitor the border situation day by day while Greater Sydney remains locked down," QLD Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.
"[While] cases remain within that locked down area, we don't need to close the border just yet. Source:
Business News Australia
