Queensland throws away border restrictions as WA brings in home quarantine

Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that from the 15th of January, Queensland’s domestic border restrictions are being lifted as Mark McGowan relaxes quarantine arrangements for travellers to WA.

Queensland’s border restrictions ending means that travellers will no longer need to apply for a border pass, provide a negative COVID-19 test to enter Queensland, and there is no requirement to quarantine if you are not vaccinated.

Premier Palaszczuk commended the QLD public for getting vaccinated and said now is the time for a return to normalcy.

“Now is the time for the barricades to come down and for the police to come home and to continue their normal operational duties on the frontline as they are needed as we face this Omicron wave,” Palaszczuk said.

Some restriction still remain on overseas travel, but people arriving into the sunshine state from a safe travel country do not have to quarantine.

QLD health minister, Yvette D’Ath, said restrictioins on vaccinated international arrivals will remain until Queensland reaches 90 per cent double dose.

“Our international arrivals are the ones that will bring in new variants, we have to consider that carefully and we need a bit more time to make sure we get the settings right,” D’Ath said.

“Over the next few days we’ll also be looking at airline and maritime crews to look at what arrangements should happen with them particularly when it comes to vaccinated versus unvaccinated.”

The WA premier announced home quarantine is allowed for travellers on day 8 of their 14 day quarantine after a week in hotel quarantine, as long as they are double dosed.

The travellers must record a negative PCR result from tests on day 1 and day 6 of their hotel quarantine to complete the remainder of their 14-days quarantine at home.

From day eight, once in self-quarantine, travellers must do a PCR test on days 9 and 12, and all members of their household will also be required to do a PCR test on the traveller’s day 12.

Mark McGowan welcomes the changes and said they will be necessary for WA’s gradual move to reopen.

“These changes are based on expert health advice, considering people become positive with Omicron earlier than with other strains of the virus,” McGowan said.

“Our health advice is clear that this adjustment is safe and will reduce the risk of Omicron spreading in hotel facilities, as we can ensure safer room allocations are in place.”