Strong border measures to keep Queenslanders safe this Christmas

Strong border measures to keep Queenslanders safe this Christmas

Queensland will enforce mandatory hotel quarantine for anyone has been in Sydney’s Northern Beaches region.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, as of 1am tomorrow, Saturday December 19, anyone travelling from Sydney’s Northern Beaches including returning Queenslanders will have to go into mandatory 14 day hotel quarantine.

The Premier said the risks are too great.

“We have come too far and sacrificed too much to risk going backwards,” the Premier said.

“We can’t afford to undo all that good work.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said Queensland would remain open to the rest of the country as health authorities maintain a close watch on other parts of the country.

“We haven’t taken this decision lightly, and while we know some people will be disappointed, we can’t afford to risk an outbreak in Queensland,” she said.

“The outbreak in Sydney’s Northern Beaches leaves us with no option but to impose mandatory quarantine for anyone who has been there in the past week.

“This is about keeping all Queenslanders safe.”

The new arrangements mean:

• Anyone who was in the Northern Beaches region since Friday 11 December 2020 and is already in Queensland should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches.

• Anyone who was in the Northern Beaches region who arrives in Queensland after 1am on Saturday 19 December 2020 must go into hotel quarantine at their own expense for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches, and get tested.

This includes both interstate visitors and Queensland residents returning home.

Police will conduct checks on all airport arrivals and random checks on road borders.

The Chief Health Officer has also issued a public health alert after a recent arrival from the Northern Beaches tested positive while in Queensland.

Anyone who visited the Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains after 11:30am on December 16 or travelled on Virgin Flight VA 925 on December 16 is asked to get tested immediately if they develop any symptoms.

Media Contact: Shane Doherty 0439624472