Roadmap to easing Restrictions

*Outdoor

An outdoor area:

  • has fixed or temporary boundaries
  • is not fully enclosed, i.e. is open to the elements and natural ventilation (significant amount of natural and unrestricted air movement required for most of the time area is in use)
  • can include a veranda, balcony, deck, patio, or similar structure that might be connected to an external wall of a building
  • can have a roof, awning, or eave
  • may include a rotunda, tarpaulin or shade structure situated in a larger open space.

An outdoor area does not include:

  • atriums internal to a building, internal courtyards or similar
  • a temporary or permanent marquee, unless marquee walls are lifted for the duration of the event
  • a tent, e.g., a circus tent or performance tent.

Use of curtain walls, panel walls or other fittings to fully enclose an area to protect from the elements is considered indoors.

Sometimes Queensland weather may require curtain walls, panel walls or other fittings to be used for short periods to partially enclose an area for patron comfort and safety. If a business is in doubt, it should operate as if it is an indoor space.

Dismiss

*Quarantine-free flight

A quarantine-free flight only carries passengers who have declared they have been in New Zealand for 14 days or more and have not been in a COVID-19 outbreak location in New Zealand in the last 14 days before travel. Quarantine-free flights will be determined by your airline. You should not travel if you are feeling unwell or have signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

Dismiss

Roadmap to easing restrictions

Find out about changes to restrictions when:

Find out more about the latest changes to border restrictions.

Our strong health response to COVID-19 means we’re well positioned for recovery.

Queensland’s Roadmap to Easing COVID-19 restrictions outlines a staged approach to giving Queenslanders more freedom to travel, participate in more activities and hold more gatherings.

See Stage 6 of the Roadmap—effective from 1am Tuesday 1 December 2020.

Changes to restrictions in Queensland

Changes include:

  • restrictions for travellers who have been in a NSW hotspot in the last 14 days or since the hotspot was declared (whichever is shorter)
  • from 1am AEST Sunday 20 December 2020 a person entering Queensland who has been in any other part of New South Wales that is not a hotspot after 1am 11 December 2020 must apply for and receive a Queensland Border Declaration Pass
  • restrictions for Queensland residents who have been in a declared NSW hotspot on or since 11 December 2020.

Find out more about the latest changes to border restrictions.

Stage 6 restrictions took effect from 1am AEST 12 December 2020.

You can:

Queensland’s COVID Safe Future

The Roadmap provides sensible and gradual steps to a COVID recovery that will reconnect our communities and keep our economy moving by supporting business, industry and Queensland jobs.

You can:

  • How far we’ve come

    Due to our hard work together, strong borders, testing, and rapid response, we have eased restrictions.

    • We can go for dinner or drinks at our favourite pubs, clubs, cafes, and restaurants.
    • Our kids can go to school and play sport.
    • We can get together with friends and family in groups of 30 in most areas of Queensland.
    • We can celebrate and mourn together at important ceremonies such as weddings and funerals.
    • All Queensland businesses and activities are able to open and run with appropriate measures in place.
    • We can attend both big and small events.
    • We can travel freely across Queensland, staying for as little or as long as we like.
    • Visitors and returned travellers from five of the seven other states and territories can enter Queensland without having to complete mandatory quarantine and we have a multidisciplinary team of experts prioritising exemptions for medical reasons.

  • Borders

    Border zone: Additional local government areas included in the declared border zone across Northern NSW.

    Restrictions easing

    Let’s move Queensland outside

    • Standing eating and drinking: Standing eating and drinking permitted at indoor and outdoor venues with a COVID Safe Plan (from 2 October 2020).
    • Outdoor density: Outdoor density requirements relaxed for businesses with a COVID Safe Plan to one person per 2m2 (e.g. outdoor dining, beer gardens and theme parks).
    • Outdoor events: Increased maximum number of people permitted at outdoor events with a COVID Safe Events Checklist from 500 to 1000.
    • Open air stadiums: Increasing the seated capacity of outdoor stadiums and amphitheatres from 50% to 75% with a COVID Safe Plan.

    UPDATE: From 4pm 16 October 2020

    • Gatherings: Gatherings of up to 40 in homes and public spaces across Queensland.
    • Weddings: Up to 40 people can dance at any one time at a wedding with a COVID Safe Plan.
    • Year 12 formals: Dancing permitted at school organised formals.
    • Aged care: Resident excursions now possible.

  • Borders

    NSW: Visitors and returned travellers from New South Wales (excluding people who have been in the 32 Sydney Local Government Areas identified as hotspots in the last 14 days) can enter Queensland with a valid Queensland Border Declaration Pass without having to complete mandatory quarantine

    Victoria: Visitors and returned travellers from Victoria can enter Queensland with a valid Queensland Border Declaration Pass and are required to complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

    South Australia (from 11:59pm 16 November 2020): Twenty (20) Local Government Areas in South Australia (including Adelaide) are declared COVID-19 hotspots, meaning travel from there to Queensland is restricted.

    UPDATE: From 4pm 17 November 2020

    • Gatherings: Increase gatherings in homes and public spaces from 40 to 50 people across Queensland.
    • Indoor premises: Increase from one per person per 4m2 to one per person per 2m2 (e.g. restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, museums, art galleries, places of worship, convention centres and Parliament House). Indoor play areas within a premises can open too.
    • Wedding ceremonies: Up to 200 people can attend a wedding and all guests can dance (both indoors and outdoors).
    • Funerals: Up to 200 people can attend a funeral.
    • Indoor events: Seated, ticketed venues to increase from 50% to 100% with patrons to wear masks on entry and exit (e.g. theatre, live music, cinemas and indoor sports). Performers can reduce distance from audience from 4m to 2m, except choirs which remain at 4m from the audience.
    • Outdoor events: Increase outdoor events from 1000 to 1500 with a COVID Safe Event Checklist. Larger events require a COVID Safe Plan.
    • Open air stadiums: Increase seated capacity from 75% to 100% (with a COVID Safe Plan).
    • Outdoor dancing: Outdoor dancing allowed (e.g. outdoor music festivals, beer gardens).

    In addition to these:

    • Boarding schools: Boarding school students can sleep over at friends’ houses on weekends and holidays.
    • Residential care: You can visit loved ones who are receiving residential care at a mental health or drug and alcohol service.
    • Gatherings: 50 people allowed to gather in homes and 100 in public spaces across Queensland.
    • Indoor premises: One per person per 2m2 (e.g. restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, museums, art galleries, places of worship, convention centres and Parliament House). Indoor play areas and unattended retail (such as children’s rides and freestanding unattended amusement and wellbeing machines) within a premises can open with a COVID Safe Checklist.
    • Wedding ceremonies: Up to 200 people can attend a wedding and all guests can dance (both indoors and outdoors).
    • Funerals: Up to 200 people can attend a funeral.
    • Indoor events: 100% capacity at seated, ticketed venues with patrons encouraged to wear masks on entry and exit (e.g. theatre, live music, cinemas and indoor sports). Performers can distance from audience at 2m, except choirs which remain at 4m from the audience.
    • Outdoor events: 1500 permitted at outdoor events with a COVID Safe Event Checklist. Larger events require a COVID Safe Plan.
    • Open air stadiums: 100% seated capacity (with a COVID Safe Plan).
    • Dancing: Dancing is allowed in all indoor and outdoor venues including outdoor music festivals, pubs, beer gardens, clubs and nightclubs, subject to the one person per 2m2 rule.

    Borders

    Note: From 1am AEST 19 and 20 December there are changes to restrictions and requirements for travel.

    Find out more about the changes that apply to those travelling into Queensland from NSW.

    International Borders: Visitors and returned travellers from the following countries can enter Queensland without having to complete a Queensland Border Declaration Pass or mandatory quarantine, unless they are travelling from a declared hotspot:

    • New Zealand

COVID Safe Check Points

Queensland Health will undertake a review at each COVID Safe Check Point. The review includes:

  • a check that testing is widespread and there is no community transmission
  • analysis of state, interstate and international trends and data
  • analysis that a move to the next stage of easing of restrictions will not present unnecessary risks.

If there is community transmission in Queensland, measures in impacted parts of the State may include:

  • gatherings reduced to 10 in homes and public spaces
  • increased testing
  • wearing of masks
  • aged care, disability accommodation, hospitals, and corrections restrictions put in place
  • increased use of PPE in aged care facilities and hospitals
  • people need to be seated in indoor venues
  • dancing at weddings will be reduced.

Don't get scammed!

Look out for scammers, fake messages, dodgy links and requests for personal information.

Learn how to spot a COVID-19 scam.

The 'New NORMAL'

Maintain physical distancing (1.5m)
Wear a mask when distancing is not possible (particularly in enclosed spaces)
Maintain good hand hygiene
Stay at home when sick
Collection of contact details to allow for effective contact tracing
Rapidly responding to outbreaks
Travel restrictions from hot spots
COVID Safe Plan or Checklist in place

Borders: COVID Hotspots

From 1am AEST 19 and 20 December there are changes to restrictions and requirements for travel from declared hotspots and from New South Wales.

Find out more about the changes to travelling from NSW.

What the Roadmap means for Queensland’s businesses

Businesses following an approved COVID Safe Plan or COVID Safe Checklist are able to have one patron per 2 square metres (for both indoor and outdoor* areas). You must ensure you continue to practice physical distancing and stay 1.5m away from the next patron, whenever possible.

COVID Safe Industry Plans and the Industry Framework for COVID Safe Events continue to apply.

Any business or organisation with an approved COVID Safe Industry Plan must download and follow the instructions in the plan, as well as complete and display a statement of compliance to demonstrate they are undertaking best practice as a COVID Safe Business. Businesses following an approved COVID Safe Industry Plan will no longer be required to complete the mandatory COVID Safe Checklist.

If your business is in a restricted industry completion of a mandatory COVID Safe Checklist and mandatory COVID Safe training remains the minimum requirements for you to commence and/or continue providing services.

For a full list of restricted businesses and mandatory COVID Safe requirements, please see Schedule 1 of the Chief Health Officer’s Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertaking Direction.

For all other businesses that are open or opening in Queensland, a Voluntary Generic Checklist for businesses is available to assist you in operating safely.

Find out more about COVID Safe Businesses.

Last updated:
21 December 2020