Queensland has recorded three new COVID-19 cases as it scraps a long-term face mask mandate and prepares to expand home quarantine.
Masks are now not required anywhere except at airports and on planes, however health experts are still recommending they be worn in crowded places, such as on public transport.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the new cases emerged after 10,870 tests in the 24 hours to 6.30am on Wednesday.
One is a Gold Coast resident who lives at Pacific Pines, has had one vaccine dose and been infectious in the community for up to six days.
“We do not know at this stage where the case from the Gold Coast has come from so we need to make sure there are no other cases on the Gold Coast,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“So now I’m saying to Gold Coast residents and families: if you are not vaccinated, go and get vaccinated. If you have any symptoms, please go and get tested.”
Another case is in southern town of Warwick, who went to a superspreader event in the NSW town of Moree, and has been infectious in the community for up to 10 days.
The premier said it was unlikely restrictions would be tightened on the Gold Coast or Warwick due to their levels of vaccine coverage.
A third person, who arrived on a flight from Melbourne, has also tested positive in hotel quarantine.
Queensland Health later listed five new low risk or casual contact exposure sites on the Gold Coast, on Sunday and Monday.
The three new COVID-19 cases come as Queensland ditches a face mask mandate in the state’s southeast, with 80.1 per cent of people having had one dose of a vaccine.
With 68.31 per cent of eligible Queenslanders fully vaccinated, home quarantine is also set to be expanded early.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said as soon as the target was hit, which could be as early as Sunday, home quarantine eligibility would be expanded.
EARLIER
Queensland will drop restrictions on fully vaccinated people and venues, and restrict unvaccinated people, once 80 per cent of eligible people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says once Queensland hits the target, or on December 17 at the latest, venues will be able to operate without any restrictions provided all staff and partons are fully vaccinated.
Unvaccinated people will be barred from hospitals, aged care facilities and prisons – except in emergency, childbirth or end of life situations – when Queensland hits the 80 per cent.
“This is both a reward for the fully vaccinated and a precaution for when the borders open and we will see more, more cases in our community and people deserve to know that they can go to these places and that they are safe,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“So this is our next step in keeping Queenslanders safe.”
Pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, music festivals and stadiums will be able to operate without any restrictions as long as their staff and all customers or patrons are fully vaccinated.
Guest limit will also be scrapped at fully vaccinated funerals and weddings once Queensland hits the target.
The state government’s check-in app will be updated on November 19 to allow people to load their vaccination status onto their profiles to streamline entry.
However, unvaccinated people will be barred from unrestricted venues and hospitals, aged care and disability care providers and prisons, except in end of life, childbirth or emergencies.
“These are tough decisions, but they are in the best interests of families and keeping people safe in this state,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The premier said there was still time for people to get the jab and they would be able to access unrestricted venues and hospitals as soon as they received a second jab, without a two-week wait for full efficacy.
Meanwhile, Queenslanders won’t have to wear face masks at all once 80 per cent of residents have had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine later this week.
Commonwealth figures show at least 79.6 per cent of Queenslanders 16 years and over have had their first dose and 67.4 per cent are double-dosed.
The Premier said that masks would not need to be worn or carried in 11 local government areas in the heavily-populated southeast when the single dose figure hit 80 per cent.
“This is another small step back towards life as normal,” she said.
Currently, masks must be carried at all times and worn when people can’t socially distance in Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Lockyer, Somerset, Logan, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gold Coast and Scenic Rim.
They are also mandatory on public transport, when arriving and leaving venues and stadiums, and at schools for students and teachers when they are not seated or teaching.
The face mask mandate will remain in force in all airports and on planes in Queensland in line with federal rules.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken said mask mandates could be enforced in low vaccination regions if there were outbreaks once the borders reopen.
Queensland recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and one in hotel quarantine after 8121 tests.
What changes when we hit 80%
Hospitals, aged and disability care providers and prisons:
* Fully vaccinated people will be free to visit
* Unvaccinated can only visit for childbirth, end of life or emergency situations
Venues and events where social-distancing, capacity or density limits will no longer apply when all staff and patrons are fully vaccinated:
* Pubs, pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and cafes
* Live music venues, cinemas, theatres or stadiums
* Sports stadiums and theme parks
* Folk, art and music festivals
* Galleries, museums or libraries
* Weddings
Venues and businesses where social-distancing, capacity or density limits will continue to apply:
* Essential and non-essential retail outlets
* Businesses such as gyms or pools
* Public transport
What is the Queensland government definition of “fully vaccinated”?
* Any person who has had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. There’s no requirement to wait two weeks for full efficacy
How do people show their vaccination status before entering Queensland venues?
* The Queensland government will upgrade its check-app to allow people to load vaccine certificates on November 19.
* Patrons and customers will check-in with QR codes as usual.
(Source: Queensland Government)
