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Queensland is poised to ease COVID-19 restrictions further tomorrow, removing the requirement to wear masks indoors and easing capacity limits on businesses, as the state goes 11 days without a locally acquired case of the coronavirus today.
From 6am AEST on Thursday 15 April, face mask wearing will only be mandatory at airports and on domestic or international flights departing or arriving in Queensland.
While no longer mandatory, Queensland Health still encourages those in the state to wear a mask on public transport, in a taxi or rideshare, in shopping centres, and in any space where physical distancing is not possible.
Restrictions on gatherings will also change, permitting 100 people to congregate at private residences. There will no longer be a limit to the number of people that can gather in outdoor public spaces.
Queenslanders will be permitted to visit aged care facilities, disability accommodation services, hospitals and correctional facilities too, provided they meet the visitor requirements of each facility.
Businesses will also welcome the easing of capacity limits from tomorrow, with the one person per two square meters rule back in effect. This applies for venues including restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, museums, art galleries, places of worship, convention centres and Parliament House.
Patrons at retail food services, entertainment venues and high risk businesses will be able to eat and drink while standing both inside and outside.
Dancing is also back in QLD, provided the one dancer per two square meter rule is abided by and physical distancing is observed both indoors and outdoors.
Venues with seating (like theatres, live music spaces, cinemas, indoor sport, universities and other higher education institutions) can have 100 per cent capacity, provided seating is ticketed and allocated.
Outdoor dance festivals and music festivals will still be required to abide by restrictions, but outdoor events like ANZAC Day parades do not need a COVID Safe Event Checklist or Event Plan anymore.
Open air stadiums will also be allowed to operate with 100 per cent ticketed and allocated seated capacity provided a COVID Safe Plan is in force. All patrons at these venues will be strongly encouraged to wear masks on entry and exit.
Weddings and funerals can have expanded attendance of whichever is greater:
- 200 people; or
- One person per two square metres; or
- 100 per cent capacity with ticketed and allocated seating.
QLD Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young reminded Queenslanders and visitors to the state to remain vigilant.
"It's great news that we're able to ease even more restrictions and while we're not yet returning to normal, we're steadily getting closer," Dr Young said.
"We're very lucky here in Queensland to be able to have gatherings and outdoor events, to go out to restaurants and cafes, go dancing and only have to wear masks in certain settings.
"But we must remember that we're still in the midst of a global pandemic. We must continue to be vigilant."
Over the past 24 hours, 2,568 vaccines were administered, bringing the total number of vaccines in QLD to 115,025 since the rollout began.
Updated at 12.30pm AEST on 14 April 2021.
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