Annastacia Palaszczuk plans to obtain an 80% vaccination rate by December 17th
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Here is the COVID19 latest update.
Under a new plan to open Queensland’s border, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has asked that more Queenslanders get vaccinated if they want to be reunited with their families by Christmas.
Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccine plan has been released, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hoping to reunite families by Christmas.
Ms Palaszczuk warned Queenslanders that “this is your final chance to get vaccinated” as she urged citizens to acquire the vaccine in bigger numbers, predicting a “Delta storm.”
Only those who have been vaccinated will be allowed to enter Queensland, she said.
The Sunshine State is expected to reach the 70% double dose vaccine objective on November 19 and the 80% mark by December 17, according to the roadmap.
Travelers from interstate hotspots who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter the state without having to go through quarantine beginning December 17.
The Premier praised the “careful and measured” proposal, saying it “will do what we want to reunite families and safeguard Queenslanders from Delta.”
“I believe Queenslanders will recognize this is a prudent and cautious approach to ensure that families may be reunited,” she said, “but those entering Queensland will need to be properly vaccinated.”
“As a result, the sooner we become vaccinated, the sooner these deadlines will be met.”
Ms Palaszczuk stated that if vaccination rates rise quicker than expected, the reopening dates might be pushed up, saying, “it’s definitely up to Queenslanders.”
Fully vaccinated tourists from hotspots, such as NSW and Victoria, will be allowed to enter the state if they arrive by air and have had a negative COVID test result within the past 72 hours, according to the 70% double dosage target.
They will also be subjected to a 14-day home quarantine.
Fully vaccinated passengers who have received the 80 percent double dosage can enter by road or air and will still be required to submit a negative test result, but they will not be compelled to quarantine.
Ms Palaszczuk added, “So that is excellent news for families to be reunited by Christmas.”
On Monday, Deputy Premier Steven Miles applauded the roadmap’s release, saying it was based on “best health advice” and “puts Queenslanders’ safety and health, as well as our economic interests, first.”
He slammed the NSW government, claiming that the Premier’s strategy is “not a succession of reckless decisions as we’ve seen from NSW.”
“We will not abandon our plan, as the Prime Minister has done… this is a plan to finish vaccinating Queenslanders, a plan to reunite families, a plan to get people moving again, and a plan to begin welcoming people back to our state.”
“Get vaccinated now if you want your relatives to visit for Christmas.”
Mr Miles stated that after the December 17 deadline is met, only the properly vaccinated will be exempt from further restrictions.
In Queensland, 72.3 percent of people aged 16 and up have had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 56.6 percent have been fully vaccinated.
Dr. Jeannette Young, the state’s chief health officer, reaffirmed the Delta strain’s threat, saying that if local cases emerge, “the virus will find those who aren’t vaccinated.”
Following more than a week of no new local cases reported in the state, the state announced another day of zero COVID-19 instances.
“We know that if you’re vaccinated, you’re well protected,” Dr. Young said during a press conference on Monday. “Now I make a plea to younger people – if younger people were to get vaccinated, we’d reach that target even sooner,” he added.
“Younger folks in the 20 to 39-year age range may believe they are invincible, but you are not. You must get vaccinated so that we can resume our usual lives.”
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath stated that the state’s reopening is “in your hands.”
“You may decide whether people can visit loved ones in NSW, Victoria, and the ACT and return without being quarantined because they’ve been properly vaccinated and, of course, have had the negative test.”
Following a targeted shot blitz across 33 Bunnings locations, the state experienced a big weekend of vaccinations.
The Queensland Department of Health stated on Sunday that over 34,000 Queenslanders rolled up their sleeves and got vaccinated over the weekend.
