Australia: Queensland tightening entry restrictions on travelers from Greater Sydney as of June 29 /update 34

Event

Authorities are tightening entry restrictions for people entering Queensland who have recently visited Greater Sydney as of June 29. Anyone in Queensland who had visited Greater Sydney, which includes the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour, and Wollongong areas, on or after 01:00 June 21, must self-quarantine for 14 days since leaving the area. Additionally, people who had visited the City of Sydney, Randwick, Waverley, or Woollahra since June 11 must also self-quarantine for 14 days. Authorities are not allowing anyone who visited Greater Sydney since June 24 or the City of Sydney, Randwick, Waverley, or Woollahra since June 11 to enter unless they are residents or have an exemption. Entrants must quarantine at a government-designated hotel at their own expense for 14 days. Officials require entrants to undergo quarantine at a hotel.

Officials will also enhance restrictions in several Local Government Areas (LGAs) in southeast Queensland from 01:00 June 29. These LGAs are Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redlands, Scenic Rim, Somerset, and Sunshine Coast. In these areas, people must wear facemasks outside their residence where social distancing is not possible, including on public transport and in shopping centers. Private gatherings will be capped at 30 people. Officials will require no more than one person per four square meters (43 square feet) in indoor settings. From 01:00 June 29, if a person outside of southeast Queensland has visited the affected LGAs, they must wear a facemask outside of their residence where social distancing is impossible. Authorities will review the restrictions on July 13.

Measures elsewhere in Queensland remain the same. Officials limit private gatherings to 100 people and are not imposing any limits on participation in outdoor gatherings. People must wear facemasks at airports, on domestic flights, and on vehicles transporting people to and from quarantine hotels. Indoor events can take place at 100-percent capacity with a COVID Safe Checklist. Convention centers, stadiums, and casinos can also operate at full capacity with a COVID Safe Plan.

Officials require restricted businesses to collect contact information. Hospitality businesses must collect and store customers' contact information electronically and use the Check In Qld mobile application. The government will expand the use of the Check In Qld app from 01:00 July 9. Patrons must use the app at large venues, shopping centers, personal services, public events, recreation facilities, short-term accommodations, and places of worship, among others; failure to comply may result in a fine.

Additional Border Controls
Officials require all arrivals to complete a declaration form before entering. Travelers must complete the Queensland Travel Declaration at least 72 hours before arrival; however, people who have been to a hotspot location or a state with a hotspot location must instead apply for a Queensland Border Pass. Residents of New South Wales-Queensland border areas must complete the Travel Declaration form; the pass is valid for 14 days.

Quarantine Requirements
Most international travelers entering Australia must quarantine at government-designated facilities for 14 days in the city of arrival. Arrivals from New Zealand are exempt from quarantine. Queensland charges all arriving travelers for quarantine; fees are payable at the end of the traveler's stay. Quarantine fees are AUD 2,800 for the first adult, AUD 3,710 for two adults, and AUD 4,620 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.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by government health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Plan for transport disruptions and delivery delays if authorities announce hotspot areas. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Queensland COVID-19 Information
Queensland Quarantine Information
Queensland Contact Tracing