Queensland Will Reopen Its Borders to Adelaide If There Are No New Unlinked Cases Before December 12
That date will mark 28 days since the first case in the South Australian capital's current cluster.
If you're a Queenslander with a hankering to visit Adelaide — or vice versa — then you'll know that your plans have been out on hold for the past month. Back in mid-November, when 17 COVID-19 cases were identified in the South Australian capital in a 24-hour period as part of a new cluster, the Sunshine State declared the area a coronavirus hotspot. And, as a result, Queensland closed its borders to the SA city.
Yesterday, Monday, December 7, the Queensland Government announced that it'll reopen to folks from the 20 Local Government Areas in Adelaide from 1am on Saturday, December 12 — but only if there are no new unlinked cases of COVID-19 between now and then. If that eventuates, Queensland will be open to the entire country, after letting folks from all of New South Wales and Victoria head north since December 1.
As Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young explained, December 12 will mark 28 days since the first case in Adelaide's cluster — if you're wondering why the state is working towards that date.
At present, anyone visiting Queensland from Adelaide has to receive an exemption and then go into quarantine for 14 days. Queenslanders returning home from the SA city must self-isolate for a fortnight, too.
The news came as the Sunshine State marked 83 days since its last community-acquired case of COVID-19. Still, the need to continue to be careful in these pandemic-afflicted times was stressed as part of the announcement. So, the usual rules regarding hygiene, social distancing and getting tested if you display any possible COVID-19 symptoms all still apply throughout the state — as restrictions keep easing, and with the new border restrictions with SA.
For more information about southeast Queensland's COVID-19 border restrictions, or about the status of COVID-19 in the state, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
- Twenty-Five Movies That You Can Stream This Christmas No Matter How You Feel About the Festive Season
- The Most Beautiful Coastal Stays You Can Book in Noosa
- Ten Treehouses Around Australia You Can Book for an Immersive Nature Getaway
- Five Unexpected (and Undoubtedly Australian) Swimming Spots to Discover Around the Country
- Ten of the Most-Secluded Waterfront Getaways You Can Book on the Northern Beaches
- Twenty of the Best Airbnb Stays You Can Book in Tasmania