COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland
On 29 January 2020, Queensland was the first state in Australia to declare a public health emergency.
[2] In March, power was given directly to the Chief Health Officer (rather than the Health Minister on behalf of the Cabinet) to make 'Directions', amongst other things allowing her to declare restrictions on movement, gatherings and business activities, to set social distancing or masking requirements, and to close borders.
[4] This fatality rate, of just under 1 per million residents, was the lowest not just in Australia, but of any sizeable jurisdiction with its own policing and health powers, in the world.
Stage 4, introduced on 11 April, was the most restrictive, every person crossing the border including Queensland residents required a permit.
[8] Closures of areas within Queensland included: Access to the Torres Strait Islands has been restricted to prevent COVID-19 from reaching the region, which has to date remained free of cases.
[12] On 1 February 2021, Queensland opened its border to all Australian states and territories except Western Australia.
[13] On 22 February, the first Queenslander received a COVID-19 vaccination at Gold Coast University Hospital.
[14] On 28 February 2021, the "Check in Qld" QR code sign-in/contact tracing app was launched by the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D'Ath.
[15] On 12 March, Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane went into lockdown after a doctor tested positive for COVID-19.
Border entry will be refused to anyone who lives in, or has visited: Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong or Shellharbour.
[17] On 8 January 2021, a three-day lockdown was announced by Annastacia Palaszczuk to prevent spread of the more contagious UK strain of coronavirus that escaped from a Brisbane hotel quarantine.
[22] Some restrictions introduced for the lockdown were maintained temporarily:[22] On 28 June Queensland recorded 3 new COVID-19 cases overnight.
A miner was found to be infected with the Delta variant of COVID-19 after returning from the Northern Territory.
This move was taken after a casual clerical worker from The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, who worked outside the COVID ward as a concierge, became infected with the Delta variant and travelled from Sandgate in Brisbane to Magnetic Island and Townsville where she visited markets.
[24][25] On 23 July, the border with NSW was closed from 1:00am due to locations outside Greater Sydney reporting COVID-19 cases.
[26] In SE Queensland wearing a face mask is mandatory whenever outside the home, unless:[26] On 24 July 2021, there was an anti-lockdown protest in Brisbane.
One of the cases is a medical student at the University of Queensland, who had been to many venues, including Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, the University of Queensland, and the Translational Research Institute at Princess Alexandra Hospital.
[32][33] On 8 August the lockdown in SE Queensland ended, though some restrictions remained in force, including mandatory wearing of masks.
This was due to an "unexpected" case of COVID-19, a taxi driver who was infectious in the community for ten days.
[37] Some venues will require proof of vaccination status, or a medical exemption for people wishing to enter their premises.
[38] On 18 December from 1am masks again became mandatory across the entire state in many public and outdoor places.
There were nearly 14,000 active cases and 80 people in hospital being treated for COVID with 1 in intensive care.
The rule covers cafes, clubs, indoor stadiums, pubs and sports arenas, except when seated, also hairdressers, libraries, nail salons and medical centre waiting rooms.
[44]A state-wide suspension of non-urgent elective surgery in public hospitals, until 1 March, was announced on 8 January by the State Health Minister.
[47]Also on 9 January, a 2-week delay in the start of the 2022 school year, to 7 February, was announced to avoid a predicted peak in COVID cases.
The end of the school year was also going to be moved a week to 16 December,[47] but this plan was later withdrawn.
"[50][51] Daily new cases were reported at 14,914, of them 2,812 from self-reported rapid antigen test results.
[52] More deaths in Queensland from COVID had now been recorded in the previous 7 days, than in the prior two years of the pandemic.
Some protesters split off from the main group, and went through the Caneland Central shopping centre.
[70][71] On 5 February, the Wellcamp COVID quarantine facility (officially named the 'Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre') was due to receive its first guests, unvaccinated travelers from New Zealand.
