Australia: Queensland to allow entry for travelers from Greater Melbourne from 0100 Feb. 27 /update 21

Event

Queensland officials will remove Greater Melbourne from its list of COVID-19 hotspots and allow entry for all travelers from the area from 0100 Feb. 27. Authorities require travelers who arrive in Queensland from Victoria in the last 14 days to apply for a Queensland Border Declaration Pass before entering the state.

Authorities continue to implement gathering and some commercial restrictions statewide. Officials allow up to 50 people to gather at home and 100 people in public. The government limits capacity to one person per two square meters (21.5 square feet) at most indoor and outdoor venues. Most businesses, including bars and nightclubs, are operating with a government-approved COVID Safe plan. Hospitality businesses must transition to collecting and storing patrons' contact information electronically; hospitality venues that do not use electronic collection methods must limit capacity to one person per four square meters (43 square feet). Officials require a COVID Safe Event Plan for all indoor events above 500 people and outdoor events above 1,500 people. Authorities do not mandate facemask usage.

Quarantine Requirements
All international travelers entering Australia must quarantine in government-designated facilities for 14 days in the city of arrival. Queensland charges all arriving travelers, including Australian citizens and permanent residents, for quarantine, payable at the end of their stay. Quarantine fees are AUD 2,800 (USD 2,213) for the first adult, AUD 3,710 (USD 2,932) for two adults, and AUD 4,620 (USD 3,652) for two adults and two children. Authorities require quarantined travelers to take a COVID-19 test before release. Refusal to take tests will result in an additional 10 days in quarantine. Officials have also appealed to people with travel history to New Zealand from Feb. 21 to undergo COVID-19 tests and isolate until the test results return negative.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by government health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Plan for transport disruptions and delivery delays in designated hotspot areas. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Queensland COVID-19 Information
Queensland Quarantine Information
Queensland Border Declaration Pass Application