Returning Queenslanders must now arrive by air and spend 14 days in hotel quarantine at their own expense, with the state closing its border with NSW overnight.

August 8, 2020

Queensland’s border with NSW has officially closed with road access blocked to everyone except essential workers and locals living along the interstate boundary.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young declared NSW and the ACT coronavirus hotspots on Saturday as the southern border closed for the second time since the coronavirus crisis began.

“These new, tough border restrictions are all about keeping Queensland and Queenslanders safe,” Heath Minister Steven Miles said.

“They are all about keeping the virus out of Queensland.”

Residents were urged to get home ahead of the 1am closure with thousands caught in heavy traffic at crossing points in the Tweed region on Friday.

Queenslanders returning from hotspots including Victoria must now arrive by air and enter a 14-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.

Non-Queenslanders from hotspots will need an exemption before they are allowed to enter the Sunshine State and will also face quarantine.

People from non-hotspot locations can fly in, or enter the state through the Northern Territory border.

Border locals from 41 postcodes along the boundary will need a pass to cross in and out of Queensland, but must not travel beyond their local area.

The decision to close the NSW border and ban ACT residents came on Wednesday, as Victoria recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic so far.

“Victoria hasn’t improved as we hoped and I won’t wait for NSW to get any worse,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said at the time.

“I will not risk the safety of Queenslanders and I will not risk our economy.”

The closure comes as authorities urged people to observe coronavirus health restrictions over the weekend.

“Maintain 1.5 metre distance at all times and wash your hands. All of those things are critical,” Dr Young said.

The government will review the border closure at the end of August.