Queensland sets 'locked in' border opening dates in new COVID-19 roadmap

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Border restrictions could ease in just over four weeks, while quarantine requirements will be scrapped for fully vaccinated travellers from mid December. 

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed a target for eased border controls once the state reaches 70 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated, expected to happen on 19 November.

Fully vaccinated travellers coming from an interstate hotspot, such as Sydney or Melbourne, will be able to return to Queensland and undertake 14 days’ home quarantine.

They must travel by air, as well as return a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of departing.   

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Then on 17 December, fully vaccinated travellers from interstate hotspots will no longer need to quarantine.

Travel by either air or road will be possible, but a negative COVID-19 test must be returned within 72 hours of travel.

This will happen sooner if Queensland reaches 80 per cent of the eligible population double-dosed earlier than anticipated.

The first set of eased restrictions will also be brought forward if 70 per cent is achieved earlier than 19 November.

Ms Palaszczuk said there’ll be a push to reach regions still lagging behind vaccination targets, including Cape York.

“I'll be sending my ministers out to the length and breadth of Queensland this week to urge people to get vaccinated,” she said.

“This is your last opportunity.

“This is your last chance to get vaccinated.

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“The faster we are vaccinated the faster these deadlines will be achieved.

“The more of us who are vaccinated, the sooner we are safely reunited with friends and family interstate and overseas.”

At 90 per cent fully vaccinated, there will be no entry requirements or quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers from interstate or overseas.

Those who don’t meet these criteria will need to enter within Queensland’s international arrivals cap and quarantine in a Government-nominated facility.

Direct international arrivals can undertake 14 days' home quarantine, after returning a negative COVID-19 test, once the state reaches 80 per cent fully vaccinated. 

Currently, 72.2 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have had one dose, while 56.6 per cent are fully vaccinated.

The latest Cairns data shows 54.7 per cent are fully vaccinated while 69.2 per cent have received one dose. 

Vaccination rates among the region's identified Indigenous population are less than half that – 23.5 per cent and 33.4 per cent respectively. 

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young warned that people should be vaccinated six weeks prior to the reopening date of 17 December to be adequately protected. 

“This virus will find people who aren’t vaccinated,” she said.

“We know you are very protected if you are vaccinated.”

Dr Young said those who are fully vaccinated are 86 per cent less likely to catch COVID-19 and pass it on, while their chance of dying falls by 90 per cent.

Over 584,000 Queenslanders aged between 20 and 39 are yet to be vaccinated.

"It's young people in that 20-to-39-year age group who probably feel you're invincible – but you're not," Dr Young said.