Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is monitoring the escalating COVID-19 situation in Greater Sydney, but will not shut the border with New South Wales "at this stage", after the state recorded another day of no local cases.
Key points:
- The Premier is urging Queenslanders in NSW to come home
- Restrictions, including mask wearing, to ease Friday morning after zero local cases
- The Queensland government will facilitate moving a number of NRL teams and their immediate family members to the state
However, Ms Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders in NSW to come home.
"Even if you are in regional parts of New South Wales, we are monitoring that very closely and things can change," said.
"My message to Queenslanders is to think seriously, long and hard, about what you are doing and if you can, come home."
Unlike Victoria, which shut its border with NSW overnight, the Premier said Queensland was "not imposing any further restrictions at this stage".
"But I am giving everyone notice that we are monitoring this incredibly closely," she said.
"Because Greater Sydney is in lockdown, we are very comfortable with keeping the Greater Sydney area a hotspot."
Restrictions to ease early
The Premier said because Queensland had not recorded an infectious case in the community since July 5, restrictions could ease 12 hours early, at 6:00am on Friday.
"We remind everyone that the restrictions remain until then, the wearing of masks, social distancing, hygiene and importantly staying home if you are unwell go and get tested," Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said.
"We would like to see our testing numbers stay high so please if you have any sort of sniffle or sore throat or cough, get tested just to be sure and to keep everyone safe."
Tougher restrictions have been in place on residents of south-east Queensland and communities around Townsville for almost two weeks.
But from Friday masks will no longer be required, except at airports and on planes.
There will also be no restrictions on visits to hospitals, aged and disability care facilities.
"You can go dancing again," she said.
"Pubs, clubs and cafes will be able to increase the number of customers from one per four square metres to three per four square metres.
"We wanted to make sure we were giving businesses this timely advice so they can prepare."
Queensland recorded just one new overseas case overnight, which was detected in hotel quarantine.
NRL players, families heading to Queensland
Meanwhile Ms Palaszczuk confirmed the state government would facilitate moving a number of NRL teams and their immediate family members to the state, at least for the next two months of the competition.
"But we will see how that goes," she said.
"It is very hard on families with the NRL players. They would be in their distinct hubs, so we are facilitating that the immediate family members can move with them and they will be in those tight hubs.
"It is up to the NRL to police that. But we will be monitoring that very closely as well."
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said there was "absolutely no risk" to players moving to the state because the NRL had organised the exclusive use of three hotels for their hubs.
"There's no-one else in those hotels other than those teams and their family members," she said.
Dr Young said she looked at a number of factors before deciding on a potential border closure, including sewerage testing results provided by the state.
"So if there were cases picked up outside the area that is in lockdown, that would be a concern," she said.
"Then if they were to reset their restrictions, that would be another thing to look at."
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Queensland's COVID-19 restrictions on track to ease after no new local cases as meetings held on NSW border closure - ABC News
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