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Queensland’s tough new border rules declare parts of Tasmania a hotspot

Emily CosenzaNCA NewsWire
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

Queensland has imposed tough border restrictions that will force travellers from southern Tasmania to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

On Saturday, chief health officer Jeannette Young announced the new border rules would come into effect from 1am on Sunday.

The new restrictions declare all of southern Tasmania a hotspot and will apply to Tasmanians arriving from 12 local government areas in Hobart and the state’s south.

Dr Young said any Queenslanders who had already arrived or were arriving before Sunday would need to monitor for symptoms and seek immediate testing if they present.

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Camera IconSome Tasmanians looking to travel to Queensland will need to quarantine for 14 days under new border restrictions. NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia

The border measures were introduced after Tasmania entered a snap three-day lockdown, caused by an infected NSW man who entered the state, despite being denied entry, and left hotel quarantine to visit friends.

“I strongly recommend at this point in time that anyone who is planning to go down to Tasmania reconsider whether it’s necessary to do so at the moment,” Dr Young warned.

“They haven't seen any community transmission at this stage, but they did have a person who was infectious out in the community for 18 hours.

“There are some exposure sites that Tasmania has declared, so if you’ve been to any of those exposure sites on October 11 or 12, please immediately get tested and isolate until you get a negative result.”

Dr Young said the exposure sites, including the Hobart airport, a Jetstar flight and a Woolworths supermarket, were listed on the Queensland Health website.

She urged residents to continue to check them as more could be listed.

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Camera IconJeannette Young urged Queenslanders to get the jab this weekend. Photo: NCA NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia

She again called for everyone in the Sunshine State to get vaccinated, saying there were “no excuses” not to this weekend.

“If you haven't had your first dose of the vaccine... this weekend is the time to do it,” she said.

“We know if we've got high vaccination rates in the community when the virus infiltrates, we’ll be fine.”

Pop up vaccination clinics have now opened in the car parks of 33 Bunnings Warehouse stores across the state, and Dr Young said it was a great time for people to get their jabs and a sausage.

“I've had my two doses, but I’m still going to get a sausage this weekend,” she joked.

“I’ll wait in queue so I don’t stop anyone getting vaccinated (that day) from getting a sausage.”

There were no new locally acquired Covid-19 cases recorded in Queensland on Saturday.

Originally published as Queensland’s tough new border rules declare parts of Tasmania a hotspot

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