The Queensland government will ease its local COVID-19 restrictions later this week, but has urged residents in NSW to come home immediately.
The state recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The last time a case was infectious in the community was on July 5.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the state can now ease a raft of restrictions, first imposed in late June, from 6am on Friday.
“We wanted to make sure we were giving business this timely advice so they can prepare, but we are going to be monitoring closely if there are further cases of community transmission,” she told reporters on Monday.
“At this stage, fingers crossed. It is all looking terrific. That is fantastic news.”
Face masks will only be mandated in airports and on planes and people will be able to freely visit hospitals, aged care facilities and disability care providers.
Venues will be able to host one person per four square metres and people will be able to have up to 100 people at their homes.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said it was essential all 4158 people quarantining in their homes did not mix in the community until they completed their 14-day quarantine period.
Ms Palaszczuk said the state will keep the ACT and NSW borders open for now, unlike Victoria, but authorities are keeping a close eye on the virus outbreak in Greater Sydney.
She said sewage testing would be crucial in determining whether COVID-19 cases were getting closer to the state border.
The premier urged any Queensland residents in NSW to immediately come home.
“My message to Queenslanders is if you are in those areas, come home,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I can’t be any clearer. Please, even if you are in regional parts of NSW, we are monitoring that very closely and things can change.
“My message to Queenslanders is to think seriously, long and hard, about what you are doing and if you can, come home.”
Queensland recorded one new case of COVID-19 in hotel quarantine on Monday.
AAP
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