Queensland’s hard border with New South Wales will be back in place from 6am on Tuesday, amid concerns about the coronavirus outbreak in Sydney.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says “swift action” is being taken after Queensland Police caught people attempting to cross the border without the correct pass.
“People will start to seeing barricades going up again this afternoon and it will be back to the strong border measures that we have seen in Queensland that have kept Queenslanders safe,” she told reporters on Monday.
There are now at least 83 cases linked to Sydney’s Northern Beaches cluster.
Ms Palaszczuk has urged those in Queensland who have been to the Northern Beaches since 11 December to get tested.
Twenty-six people linked to the outbreak are in hotel quarantine in Queensland. Twenty of those cases have returned negative COVID-19 results.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the situation at the border was “concerning”.
“I can’t give the community confidence that we are picking everyone up as they are coming across the border – hence the need to move to a hard border closure,” he said.
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“It is disappointing that we have seen that in a system that relies on the integrity and honesty of the community coming forward and some people are not doing the right thing.”
Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said police doing “random intercepts” had turned around 81 people and placed 112 in quarantine by 10.30am on Tuesday.
Fines of more than $4,000 can apply to those who make false declarations on border passes, he said, including whether they have been to a hotspot.
Queenslanders in Sydney have been given until 1am on Tuesday to get home, but they will need to be tested for COVID-19 and go into self-isolation on arrival.
Queensland recorded one positive case of COVID-19 on Monday – an overseas traveller in hotel quarantine.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus.
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania.
