Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that the state will be closing its borders to NSW and the ACT from 1 am on Saturday, August 8.
It comes as Queensland recorded one new coronavirus case last night.
Amidst growing coronavirus case numbers across the country, Queensland is preparing to shut its border to NSW and ACT from this weekend.
“In New South Wales, we are continuing to see cases each day, and this is of great concern to Queensland,” Palaszczuk described in a press conference this morning, according to News.com.au.
“I can now confirm that our Chief Health Officer is declaring New South Wales and the ACT a hot spot,” she continued. “This will take immediate effect from Saturday. This is the right thing to do. I know it’s going to be tough on Queenslanders. But your health comes first.”
Queensland borders will close to NSW and the ACT from 1am this Saturday, August 8.
This hard border closure puts Queenslanders first.#COVID19au pic.twitter.com/K5VZkPQK9F
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 4, 2020
Palaszczuk described that the move would be “tough” for small businesses but that it was about protecting the economy and health of Queenslanders: “This is a life and death situation here.”
Jesus Queensland is closing the border to NSW (all of it) and ACT
— Classy, bougie, ratchet (@PetalStrike) August 4, 2020
The ban will mean that anyone coming from NSW or the ACT will be unable to enter Queensland from Saturday morning onwards. Only Queensland residents will be able to enter, however, upon doing so they will have to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.
It comes as Melbourne is set to announce 725 new cases this morning amidst its first week of stage 4 lockdowns and Sydney continues to tighten restrictions.
