New South Wales and the ACT have been declared coronavirus hotspots by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Who announced that the state will close its borders to New South Wales and the ACT from 1:00am on Saturday, after the state recorded a new coronavirus case.
Queenslanders who return after travelling will be required to undertake mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.
“This will take immediate effect from Saturday, 1am,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “And this is the right thing to do. I know it’s going to be tough on Queenslanders.
“But your health comes first. We need to protect not only our health. We need to protect the families. We need to protect our economy.”
Only residents from border communities and essential workers — such as truck drivers — will be able to cross the border. The closure is set to be reviewed at the end of August.
A 68-year-old Queensland woman was diagnosed with the coronavirus yesterday — Health authorities are investigating the source of the infection. The number of active cases in Queensland stands at 11.
“This is the right decision for Queensland,” Palaszczuk shared. “It is going to be tough for some of our small businesses in those communities. But what would be more catastrophic is to take Queensland backwards.”
“This is about protecting our economy and protecting Queenslanders’ health. I always listen to the health advice and that is exactly what I have done here today.
“This is about people’s health, there are people dying. This is a life and death situation here.”
She continued, “This is going to be tough for a few months, but everyone, we are in a world pandemic. You only need to listen to the World Health Organisation. It is getting worse, it is not getting better.”
