03 January 2023: Travellers from China required to undertake Covid-19 testing before travelÂ
The Australian Government will introduce pre-departure testing for COVID-19 for people travelling to Australia from the People’s Republic of China including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
This measure is in response to the significant wave of COVID-19 infections in China and the potential for emerging viral variants in that country.
From 12:01am on Thursday 5 January 2023, travellers will be required to undertake a COVID-19 test within the 48hrs prior to travel and show evidence of a negative test result when travelling to Australia.
Click here for further information
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11 November 2022: Queensland Government health advice is that the current level of risk in the community is determined to be AMBER.Â
When the traffic light is amber, the Queensland government recommend you wear a mask:
- in healthcare settings
- indoors, if you can't socially distance
- on public transport
- if you are older or medically at risk
- if you’re around people who are vulnerable to COVID-19
- if required by a venue or household.
More information can be found at:
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/health-advice
COVID update archive
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31 August 2022: Change in isolation period for COVID-19 positive cases
Following a decision at National Cabinet, the isolation period for COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts with symptoms will reduce from 7 days to 5 days – providing they are free of symptoms by the time they leave isolation. These changes will come into effect from Friday 9 September.
For people who still have symptoms after five days, they must continue to isolate.
Workers in high-risk settings including hospitals, health care settings, disability and aged care facilities, and those providing care in the home are still required to isolate for 7 days following a positive test.
Close contacts with no symptoms do not have to isolate for the 5 days if they:
- undertake daily Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT);
- wear a mask outside the home;Â
- avoid high-risk settings, including hospitals, health care settings, and disability and aged care facilities;
- work from home (where possible);
- avoid non-essential gatherings and contact with people at risk of severe illness; and
- notify their employer/educational facility of their close contact status.
The change to isolation requirements will enable people who have tested positive to COVID-19 and close contacts with no symptoms to return to work sooner, while continuing to protect at-risk people in the community. -
22 July 2022: Protect yourself from COVID-19
Everybody is at risk of getting COVID-19. To protect yourself, your family and the community from getting COVID-19 you must maintain good hygiene and practice social distancing.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.
- Stay 1.5 metres away from other people
- Wash your hands often using soap and water or hand sanitiser.
- Sneeze or cough into your arm or a tissue. Put the tissue in the bin.
- You are encouraged to wear a face mask in crowded areas
- Get vaccinated.
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18 July 2022: COVID-19 Update
DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS IF YOU HAVE ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS, including a fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, or loss or change in sense of taste or smell – however mild, even if you have a negative rapid antigen test result.
Find out what to do if you have symptoms, or if you or someone you know tests positive for COVID-19.
Find out what to do if you have COVID, or if you or someone you know tests positive for COVID-19.
If you are a close contact you are encouraged to study or work from home, if you can, for 7 days. Further guidance is available on the Queensland Health website
Boosters and additional doses – COVID-19
It’s important to keep your COVID-19 vaccinations up-to-date, which means having all boosters you are eligible for. Getting boosters will provide an extra layer of protection against COVID-19.
- All Queenslanders aged 16 and over who have had 2 COVID-19 vaccine doses more than 3 months ago should get a third COVID-19 vaccine dose (first booster).
- People aged 50 and over, and those at greater risk of severe illness, are recommended to have a fourth dose (a second booster, also called a winter dose), from 3 months after the first booster dose.
- People aged 30 to 49 can also get a fourth dose (second booster) if they choose.
- Even if you’ve had COVID-19, you should still get your boosters after an interval of 3 months.
- Children aged 5 to 15 should get 2 COVID-19 vaccine doses. Boosters are not currently recommended for this age group unless they are immunocompromised.
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28 April 2022: Changes to quarantine requirement for close contacts
Changes to quarantine requirement for close contacts
From 6pm AEST Thursday 28 April 2022, there are no quarantine requirements for close contacts as long as they:
- do not have COVID-19 symptoms
- follow the Guidelines for Close Contacts.
You are a close contact if you have been with a person that has COVID-19 or you've spent more than 4 hours with a person who has COVID-19 in a house or other accommodation (such as an apartment, shared accommodation, residential aged care facility or hospital).You are not a close contact if you have been in a separate part of the house or accommodation with your own entry, and you have not had contact with the diagnosed person or used any shared or common areas they've been in for more than four hours.
For more information see: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/exposed-to-covid/close-contacts/first-steps-as-a-close-contact
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14 April 2022: COVID-19 Management - Update
What to do if you have COVID
Follow five simple steps to prepare yourself if you have COVID
Quarantine and testing requirements for a close contact
Who counts as a close contact and what to do if you become a close contact
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13 December 2021: Changes to Queensland's border restrictions
From 1am AEST Monday 13 December 2021, Queensland’s border restrictions will ease further, following Queensland achieving 80% of the eligible population fully vaccinated. See here for a summary of the new rules.  For more detailed information please see Border Restrictions Direction (No. 56).
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Friday 4 March 2022: Upcoming easing of restrictions in Queensland
- Masks will no longer be required indoors, except in healthcare settings, residential aged care, disability accommodation, prisons, public transport, airports and on planes.
- Masks will no longer be required in schools, including for staff, students and visitors.
- Masks will still be recommended whenever you can’t social distance.
- There will be no limit on the number of visitors you can have in your home at one time.
- Venues and events will no longer have density limits.
Until then, current face mask requirements (see below) and other public health and social measures remain in effect. -
13 December 2021: Quarantine and other Requirements for International Arrivals
The new Quarantine for International Arrivals Direction (No. 15) will come into effect from 1am AEST Monday 13 December 2021. Changes to quarantine arrangements for persons arriving from overseas are summarised here.
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6 December 2021: Queensland reopening and NSW COVID-19 border bubble rules explained
- People who have been in hotspots in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia will be able to enter the state from 1:00am next Monday (13th).
- Fully vaccinated border residents will be able to move freely across the border, though they will need a border pass. Â Border passes will be valid for 14 days at a time.
Queensland residents – from anywhere in the state – will be able to travel into the NSW side of the border zone freely, but if they venture further south, they will need to comply with the hotspot rules.
For example, a fully vaccinated Toowoomba couple can take a day trip to Byron Bay and return, but if they spent the weekend in Coffs Harbour, they will need negative test results before being permitted back over the border.
- Unvaccinated residents of the border zone will be restricted to travel for essential purposes, just as they are now.
Fully vaccinated people will be able to enter Queensland by road or air and will not need to quarantine.
ÂThey will need to have had a negative COVID test result returned within 72 hours of their arrival, then get tested again five days after arrival.
- People who aren't fully vaccinated will need to arrive by air and undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine.
- People arriving from overseas must be fully vaccinated and have received a negative COVID test result within 72 hours of their arrival. They will also need to be tested on arrival, then go into quarantine — either at home or in a hotel — for 14 days.
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29 November 2021: Federal government pauses international arrivals for students and visa holders as it awaits information on Omicron COVID
Further to the announcement from the Prime Minister on 22 November 2021, it has today been agreed following a meeting of the National Security Committee of Federal Cabinet, that the Australia border opening, and measures previously detailed, will now be postponed from 1 December 2021 to 15 December 2021. This will enable more to be understood about Omicron, the new circulating variant of the coronavirus
In light of the above, it will now be from 15 December 2021, that fully vaccinated eligible visa holders will be able to enter Australia without first needing to be granted a travel exemption. This is subject to change, contingent on further assessment of Omicron.