Queensland’s major border announcement

The sunshine state is expected to reach its 70 per cent double vaccination target on Monday.

Queensland is painfully close to the milestone and is sitting at 69.94 per cent, while 81.6 per cent of eligible people have had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Health minister Yvette D’Ath said with 23,380 vaccinations administered on Saturday and more expected on Sunday, the target would definitely be reached in the next 24 hours.

According to Queensland’s Covid-19 roadmap, once the 70 per cent target is reached anyone who has been in a hotspot in the past 14 days will be able to cross the border by air, providing they are fully vaccinated and have received a negative test in the previous 72 hours.

In a significant shift, they will also be able to undertake 14 days of home quarantine, rather than be confined to a hotel.

Although the milestone would be reached on Monday, Ms D’Ath said it would be another few days before the relaxed border restrictions came into effect.

“There will be a process and a lead-in time…to make sure everything is in place,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said while people could start planning, the online border pass system would not update to allow for home quarantine until the 70 per cent target was officially reached.

The health minister also said things were looking good for a further easing of restrictions in the coming month.

“This 70 per cent target is just the start,” she said.

“We are well on our way to seeing 90 per cent of eligible Queenslanders having their first dose before Christmas.”

Queensland is expected to open its borders to any fully vaccinated person across the country from December 17, or whenever 80 per cent of residents have received two doses, whichever is first.

People who enter after this date will not have to quarantine, so long as they are fully vaccinated.

Originally published as Queensland borders restrictions set to ease as state reaches 70 per cent vaccination milestone