Queensland has revived border restrictions with Victoria in response to Melbourne’s recent Holiday Inn coronavirus outbreak, requiring anyone entering from the state to file a declaration form.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles has confirmed Queensland will reinstate its border declaration system as national concern grows over the Melbourne outbreak.
Health by Zoe Smith, Clare Armstrong and staff writers 1st Feb 2021 5:26 AM | Updated: 5th Feb 2021 1:29 PM
Premium Content Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the number of international arrivals allowed into Australia would increase as of this month, as questions were raised about human error in hotel quarantine. Caps for overseas flights will be expanded for NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia from February 15, Mr Morrison said. We must remember that our borders are actually shut, he said, following a national cabinet meeting. No-one can just come to Australia. To be able to come to Australia, you need to be an Australian resident or citizen, or have a particular exemption in a particular occupation or something of that nature, which is handled through Border Force, to enable someone
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today meet with state and territory leaders at the National Cabinet where the strained hotel quarantine system is expected to top the agenda.
The program is under heavy scrutiny following recent outbreaks among hotel quarantine workers in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles on Thursday called out Mr Morrison, saying it was time for the federal government to contribute to the program and the prime minister was “all care and no responsibility”.
The National Cabinet is also expected to discuss international arrival caps, which were reduced from 7,500 people per week to a limit of 5,000 people just days before Christmas.
With the caps set to revert to the previous limit in 10 days, leaders will look at whether the nation is equipped to handle the bolstered numbers.
The country's seasonal worker shortage and vaccine update will also on the agenda today.
Aussie-Made Home CCP Virus Test Ramps Up Production for US, Not Australia
An Australian-made over-the-counter rapid home test for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, will soon be manufactured in the United States to make it available to millions of Americans, but it will not be available to Australians because it is prohibited by law.
The company was given an emergency authorisation in December by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to supply the Ellume COVID-19 Home Test for non-prescription use by symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals aged two years and older. The home tests deliver 96 percent accurate results within 15 minutes.