COVID-19 rules for those in Queensland and South Australia are set to change, reducing the time needed to isolate for close contacts in the sunshine state, and the removal of testing requirements for those arriving down south.
As announced today by Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles, anyone who is deemed a close contact and is double vaccinated will be required to quarantine for seven days instead of 14 days.
This new rule comes into effect from 22 December, and close contacts must also get tested on day five of their isolation period.
There are no changes to quarantine requirements for close contacts that are unvaccinated; they must still isolate for 14 days and get tested immediately and on days five and 12.
Meanwhile, South Australia will no longer require intestate travellers to get tested for COVID-19 on arrival as long as they’ve tested negative 72 hours prior to travel.
The state’s chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said she was “mindful” of the testing burden being placed on those coming into SA currently.
It comes as SA recorded 154 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, with five people in hospital.
Queensland however recorded 58 new cases of the coronavirus yesterday.
Updated at 1.23pm AEDT on 21 December 2021.
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