Queensland will completely close its border to non-residents from Victoria from midday tomorrow.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the change on social media, tweeting: "Given the developing situation in Victoria, Queensland is hardening its border.
"From noon, July 10, visitors from Victoria will no longer gain access or be able to quarantine in Queensland.
"They will be turned around."
Queensland residents will still be allowed to return from Victoria, although they have been advised against travelling there.
"It is strongly recommended that Queenslanders do not travel to Victoria," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"Queensland residents returning from Victoria will gain access, but they must quarantine in a hotel for 14 days at their expense."
The Government has announced a number of exemptions for people entering the state from Victoria, who will not be required to quarantine:
- Essential health workers
- People travelling on health, legal or compassionate grounds
- Truck drivers carrying freight, but must renew border pass every seven days
More cases expected in Queensland
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said Queensland had "enormous capacity" to both test and respond to any cases.
"Yes, I expect that over the coming two weeks we will see cases in Queensland, but we've got the capacity to rapidly respond and manage them," Dr Young said.
Health Minister Steven Miles said he appreciated the announcement would cause hardship.
"It will mean some hard decisions and we need the community's understanding," Mr Miles said.
"There will be people who have very good reasons to travel to Queensland, and there will continue to be compassionate and hardship grounds taken into consideration, but they will be more strictly applied to people returning from Victoria," Mr Miles said.
Mr Miles also announced testing for COVID-19 would be mandatory for anyone visiting or returning to Queensland who developed respiratory health symptoms.
"It will be a condition of the border pass that you need to enter, or re-enter Queensland," he said.
Fines of up to $4,000 will apply for anyone who develops symptoms, and does not get tested.
Mr Miles said the state's new requirements had been scrutinised by legal advisers.
Additional pop-up clinics will be established at strategic locations across the state to help facilitate the tests.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA3LTA5L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXF1ZWVuc2xhbmQtY2xvc2VzLWJvcmRlci10by12aXNpdG9ycy1mcm9tLXZpY3RvcmlhLzEyNDI5OTM00gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyNDI5OTM0?oc=5
2020-07-08 23:18:00Z
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