Annastacia Palaszczuk reveals exactly when ALL Covid restrictions will be scrapped for fully vaccinated Queenslanders - including masks and social distancing
- Distancing restrictions to end for fully vaccinated Queenslanders from Dec 17
- Indoor mask rules in state scrapped when it hits 80 per cent single dose mark
- Masks no longer be required in schools, cafes and pubs at that coverage level
- Queensland will hit that milestone as early as Tuesday, the state's premier said
- Residents in NSW must still though wear a face covering in public indoor settings
Queensland will scrap all Covid restrictions for fully vaccinated people in venues once it reaches 80 percent of residents with two doses of vaccine on December 17.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced social distancing requirements would end in pubs, clubs, stadium, theatres, restaurants, music festivals and other venues once the milestone was reached.
It followed her announcement early on Tuesday that masks would no longer be needed in venues such as schools, cafes, pubs, hairdressers and workplaces when 80 per cent of eligible Queensland residents had received one dose of the vaccine.
Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland was at 79.63 per cent of people with a first dose but expected it to reach the 80 per cent milestone some time on Tuesday.
'We have decided to take this step to keep Queenslanders safe, Millions of Queenslanders have gone and got vaccinated and they deserved to be rewarded for their efforts,' Ms Palaszczuk said.
'Families want to know they are safe when they're out in public settings and that's why we've announced these measures today.'
Use of Queensland's check-in app to prove vaccination status would be required to enter venues.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will end Covid restrictions in venues once the state hits 80 per cent of fully vaccinated people on December 17. She also announced Queensland would scrap indoor mask rules this week when the state hits the 80 per cent single-dose vaccination mark this week
The new rules will be more relaxed than NSW and Victoria, where residents must still wear a face covering in public indoor settings - with the latter yet to set a date for removing the rule.
In NSW, masks are compulsory in all public indoor settings until December 15 or the state hits the 95 per cent double-dose milestone - whichever comes first.
The announcement comes after the Sunshine State recorded no new Covid cases on Tuesday amid concerns about potential exposure at opposite ends of the state.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken said it was relieving no new infections had emerged in the far north or in Goondiwindi after a case who triggered a lockdown in the Northern Territory was also infectious in Cairns and Mission Beach two weeks ago.
However, concerns remain about potential exposure at Toowoomba Hospital linked to an outbreak in Goondiwindi in southern Queensland.
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Darling Downs Health restricted visitors on Sunday afternoon and Ms D'Ath said limits will remain in place indefinitely.
Queensland Health has also listed two new low risk exposure sites at Brisbane Airport domestic terminal, both on Friday.
As the state approaches the milestone of 80 per cent of eligible Queenslanders having a first vaccine dose, businesses and the opposition have been calling for clarity on rules in premises and venues.
The government's roadmap is for quarantine to be scrapped for fully-vaccinated domestic travellers who test negative once the state reaches 80 per cent.
Queensland recorded no new Covid cases on Monday amid concerns about potential exposure at opposite ends of the state. Pedestrians are pictured wearing masks in the Brisbane CBD on September 28
Businesses want to know how restrictions such as face masks, density limits and social distancing rules will change.
The health minister said she couldn't provide more clarity because the virus was so unpredictable, adding that no jurisdiction has been able to do that.
'There's been a lot of consultation with business, a lot of consultation with the retail sector, the hospitality tourism sector,' Ms D'Ath said.
'We'll continue to work with them to provide as much clarity as we can, but what we know about this virus is you can only provide so much clarity.'
However, Dr Aitken confirmed authorities were planning specific business and venue rules relating to vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Pedestrians are pictured out and about enjoying a drink in Sydney for their first Friday night of freedom on October 15. Residents in NSW must still wear a face covering in public indoor settings until December 15 or the state hits the 95 per cent double-dose milestone - whichever comes first
Ms D'Ath said that Doherty Institute modelling and the experiences of other states on the need for lockdowns and quarantine, including for international travellers, will be considered by the government.
Queensland is waiting until 90 per cent of residents are fully vaccinated before quarantine is scrapped for international arrivals, while NSW and Victoria have already done so.
Lockdowns are also less likely in regions where vaccination rates have passed 80 per cent.
'When we have really high vaccination rates like Goondiwindi we know that we don't necessarily have to go into a lockdown,' Ms D'Ath said.
Overall, 67.4 per cent of eligible Queenslanders are fully vaccinated, and 79.6 per cent have had one dose on Monday.
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