COVID Update December 6: Borders to reopen four days early

Fully vaccinated people will be able to enter Queensland from 1am next Monday, December 13.

Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk says with the state expected to hit 80 percent fully vaccinated targets this week, borders would reopen ahead of the predicted December 17 reopening date.

Ms Palaszczuk says announcing the early reopening would give travellers greater certainty and police and other authorities time to prepare.

“It was expected that we would reach 80 percent fully vaccinated some time this week,” she said.

“We can’t predict exactly when so we want to give families and businesses certainty.”

From 1am on December 13 fully vaccinated people who have returned a negative COVID test in the previous 72 hours will be able to arrive in Queensland by road or air and will not have to quarantine.

Those who are not fully vaccinated will only be allowed to arrive by air and will have to hotel quarantine.

Ms Palaszczuk says people will no longer have to wait two weeks after their second vaccination to be considered fully vaccinated.

“The national guidelines say one week and we will follow the guidelines,” she said.

However people arriving from domestic hotspots will be required to have a second COVID test five days after arriving.

People living in border communities will have more freedom, with vaccinated residents able to cross freely – but they will need a border pass, which lasts 14 days.

“We’re hoping to provide some greater flexibility and freedom of movement,” Ms Palaszczuk says.

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