Information for businesses – COVID (2022)

Posted on January 4th, 2022

Updated 15 November 2022 – scroll down for details

Link to pre-2022 information

It has been two weeks since the Queensland Government announced the end of the declared public health emergency for COVID 19.  This meant from 6 p.m. Monday 31 October 2022:

• there are no Public Health Directions in effect requiring you to wear a face mask, but you may still be asked to wear one.
• Decisions on mandatory vaccinations for workers are now made by the owner or operator of a business or facility
• Although isolation is no longer mandatory, if you’re sick or test positive, Queensland Health continues to recommend you follow this advice

Legislation has been passed which underpins a COVID-19 management framework for the next phase of the pandemic.  In accordance with this framework, Queensland has introduced a traffic light system, which offers tiered public health advice based on rates of COVID-19 community transmission.  Queensland Health’s traffic light system will help you understand the current level of risk and take appropriate precautions.  The advice in the traffic light system is a recommendation only and not a legal requirement. However, if there is a serious risk to the public health system or the community from COVID-19, the Chief Health Officer may mandate wearing masks, isolation for people with COVID-19, and vaccinations for certain workers.

Yesterday, the traffic light system moved to amber.  This is due to a 15% increase in active cases, an increase in hospitalisations and an increase in Covid related ambulance call outs.  The Queensland Government believes the fourth wave of Covid 19 has arrived. 

Amber

Amber (Tier 1) means there are moderate rates of community transmission and Queensland is coming off a wave or may be entering a new wave.  When the traffic light is amber, Queensland Health recommends 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.

People who are older or have medical conditions can be more vulnerable to serious illness if they get COVID-19.  Places where it’s more likely people may have COVID-19 include healthcare settings such as hospital emergency departments and general practitioner (GP) waiting rooms.  Take a rapid antigen test (RAT) if you get COVID-19 symptoms – or every two days, if someone in your household tests positive to COVID-19. 

If you get COVID-19:

• register your RAT result
• stay home until you’re well again
• wear a mask for 7 days after you test positive
• avoid visiting hospitals, aged care, or disability care for 7 days after you test unless you are receiving care
• ask household members to closely monitor symptoms.

You should always stay home if you’re sick, maintain good hygiene and keep up to date with your vaccinations.

For current information visit the Queensland Health Covid 19 website.

COVID-19 hub – Queensland Government website including health advice, essential information, travel restrictions, care army and business resources.

Quick links for business

Link to pre-2022 information

Posted 1 September 2022

Legislation to end the emergency framework for managing COVID has been introduced to State Parliament. Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said existing legislative emergency powers would lapse as planned on 31 October, to be replaced by a limited set of temporary and targeted measures to manage COVID-19. The powers the Chief Health Officer under the Bill have a sunset clause of 31 October 2023. Read more – statements.qld.gov.au/statements/96078

The Chief Health Officer Public Health Direction mandating COVID-19 vaccination requirements for workers in health care settings will be revoked in Queensland from Friday (2 September). Read more – statements.qld.gov.au/statements/96069

Posted 15 June 2022

Mask mandate in airports lifts this weekend (18-19 June)

The mask mandate in all Queensland airports will be lifted from this weekend. Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the government would adopt the recommendation of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) to ease the mandate from midnight 17 June.
Read the media statement – statements.qld.gov.au/statements/95409

Factsheet: Managing the risk for COVID-19 exposures in businesses and venues

Posted 23 April 2022

Quarantine requirements will be removed for close contacts from 6pm Thursday 28 April. The measures only apply to asymptomatic close contacts.

Close contacts who have symptoms of COVID-19 will be required to test and to isolate until these symptoms resolve, even if they return a negative RAT result.

Under the new arrangements, close contacts will need to wear masks outside their home for seven days and will need to have a negative COVID-19 test result every second day since becoming a close contact.

Close contacts who work in a vulnerable setting will still need to meet a range of criteria, including meeting the vaccination requirements, wearing a mask at all times, being free of symptoms, and undertaking regular COVID-19 testing.

Also from Thursday 28 April, unvaccinated travellers will be allowed to enter Queensland without having to quarantine.

International arrivals, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, will still need to return a negative COVID-19 test result within 24 hours of their arrival and will need to undertake further testing if they develop symptoms.

Queensland Government media statement – statements.qld.gov.au/statements/95012

Posted 13 April 2022

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council has provided the following advice:

Vaccination requirements for employees and customers
From Thursday 14 April, customers and staff at cafes, pubs, and clubs will no longer be required to be vaccinated to work or frequent these venues. The proof of vaccination requirement will also be removed for all employees and guests at casinos, weddings venues, galleries, stadiums, museums, showgrounds, cinemas, and theme parks. 
Current density limits will also be lifted from Thursday 14 April onwards for the these locations and venues. 

Tour operators 
The density limits and proof of vaccination requirements for staff and guests will also be removed from 14 April for all tour operators. 

Face mask requirements
The recently announced changes to the public health and social measures relate only to the checking of vaccination status. There are no changes to the mandatory wearing of masks in specified venues and locations. 
The current mask requirements will remain in place for tour operators who manage commercial shuttles. In accordance with Queensland government stipulations, masks must be worn at all times by both drivers and passengers, unless the driver is alone in the vehicle. 

Posted 5th April 2022

Tourism and Events Queensland has provided the following update on the easing of vaccination requirements from 14th April:

Tourism experiences, zoos, aquariums, festivals and convention and entertainment centres are all currently named in the Public Health Direction requiring businesses to only allow vaccination visitors and staff. These venues are not listed as vulnerable settings and it is expected they will be included in the changes from next week.

Vaccination and check-in requirements will continue for anyone visiting or working in vulnerable settings including hospitals, disability accommodation services and residential aged care. The requirements will also still apply to workers in high-risk settings including airports, schools, childcare, prisons.

What does this mean for tourism and events businesses?

Until 1:00am, Thursday 14 April 2022, you need to continue to ask guests to check-in using the Check In Qld App, and require proof of vaccination to participate in your tourism experience or event. After this time, you no longer need to sight proof of vaccination from guests, or require them to check in. You may also employ anyone regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status.

You must continue to operate within your business’s Work Health and Safety Plan and any other requirements. You should confirm your business type is covered by the changes when the Public Health Direction is updated.

Updated Public Health Direction

It is expected that the updated Public Health Direction will be published by Queensland Health on by 1:00am, Thursday 14 April. In the meantime, some details are published here.

If you have a question specific to your business, you can contact the Tourism Response Team:

Ph. 134 268 tourismresponse@dtis.qld.gov.au

Queensland Government media:

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the further easing of COVID restrictions.

As of 1am, Thursday April 14, most venues that have been open only to vaccinated staff and patrons will be open to all.

The venues include:

• Pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants
• Theme parks, casinos and cinemas
• Weddings
• Showgrounds
• Galleries, libraries, museums and stadiums

The requirement for vaccinations will still apply to in vulnerable settings including:

• Hospitals
• Aged and disability care
• Prisons
• Schools and early childhood centres.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard appealed particularly to parents of young children to consider getting vaccinated.

Pop up vaccine hubs will open at around 50 sites including schools across the holidays, in addition to existing sites.

Queenslanders are reminded that masks can be worn when people feel it necessary to reduce risk.

Media release – statements.qld.gov.au/statements/94896

Posted 22 February 2022

Upcoming easing of restrictions in Queensland

From 6pm AEST Friday 4 March 2022:

• Masks will no longer be required indoors, except in hospitals, 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 capacity limits.

Until then, current face mask requirements and other public health and social measures remain in effect.

Posted 9 February 2022

International Borders re-open and Check-in Queensland app update

Important changes have been made this week with changes to the customer contact information collection via the Check-In Qld app while from February 21 international visitors will be able to enter our state without quarantining, provided they are vaccinated and provide a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test within 24 hours of entering Australia. 

Read more

Posted 1 February 2022

New measures will be implemented across Queensland to help students, teachers and staff return to schools on February 7.

Masks will be required for all staff and high school students – and highly encouraged for most primary school students – when classes resume.

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) will also be available to students and staff who develop symptoms while at school, while those who develop symptoms at home will have priority access to RATs at Queensland Health clinics.

Media statement – COVID-safe back to school plan

Posted 19 January 2022

From 1am Saturday 22 January, vaccinated international arrivals will have no period of quarantine and can enter directly via any Queensland international airport.

Those arriving will need to have a RAT within 24 hours of arrival.

For unvaccinated international travellers who have Commonwealth approval to enter Australia, they will be required to undertake a period of 14 days quarantine in a Queensland Government nominated facility. Keep an eye on the Queensland Health website as more information comes to hand.

Media statement – Restrictions on vaccinated international arrivals ease

Despite the reopening of Queensland’s international borders on Saturday 22 January, the entry of international travellers remains subject to federal regulations. Accordingly, only certain visa category holders and fully vaccinated international travellers from Safe Travel Zone countries may enter Queensland. 

A list of federal travel restrictions from the Department of Home Affairs can be found here. A comprehensive list of visa subclasses available to international travellers can be accessed here. Many of the listed visas are applicable to workers seeking to be employed in our tourism and hospitality industry. 

Posted 13 January 2022

From 1am Saturday 15 Jan, Queensland’s domestic border restrictions are being lifted with Queensland expected to reach the 90 per cent double dose vaccination target around the end of next week.

Restrictions on vaccinated international arrivals will remain until Queensland reaches 90 per cent double dose.

Media statement – Queensland’s border changes

Posted 10 January 2022

2022 school year to start on February 7

The start of the 2022 school year in Queensland will move from Monday January 24 to Monday  February 7 to avoid opening schools during the predicted peak of the Omicron wave and to allow more time for children to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Directed remote learning won’t be offered at this stage other than for years 11 and 12. An extensive range of resources and activities will be available to students via learning@home site.

The new term start date of February 7 will apply to all Queensland primary schools, secondary schools, including Catholic and independent, and state delivered and sessional kindies.

Long day care will stay open subject to workforce capacity.

More information can be found here on the Department of Education website – education.qld.gov.au/

Rule change to ensure critical work goes ahead

Critical Queensland workers will be able to provide essential services while they are classified close contacts provided they meet strict health criteria.

Workers will need to be fully vaccinated and must wear a mask.

They must be asymptomatic.

Critical or essential workers who are eligible and are able to work during the usual close contact quarantine period will be required to: 

• travel to and from work in a private vehicle
• while travelling and working, wear appropriate PPE
• maintain personal hygiene (hand washing etc)
• undertake regular symptom surveillance 
• undertake a RAT on Day 6, consistent with the requirements for all close contacts.

Employers need to determine if their organisation or business falls under the narrow list of critical industries, then identify which roles within their organisation are critical and cannot be performed from home, before notifying the Queensland Government.

A ‘critically essential worker’ will be defined as someone employed in one of the following industries, who must be in the workplace to do their job:

• health 
• emergency services, including Police
• the resource sector  
• power/utilities
• agriculture and fisheries production
• freight and logistics
• public transport
• teachers
• essential retail such as supermarkets and stores in remote locations/communities
• major manufacturing, distribution, and critical supply chains (for example food and petrol).

If at any stage they develop symptoms, they need to return to quarantine immediately. While they can go to work if they are a critical worker, they must continue to follow all other quarantine requirements.

Media statement – Rule change to ensure critical work goes ahead

Posted 1 January 2022

Starting 1am Sunday January 2022, masks will be required indoors across Queensland to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The Chief Health Officer has ordered masks be worn indoors everywhere except in the family home and workplaces where it is unsafe.

Masks are already required:

• In supermarkets and shops
• Public transport and rideshare
• Airports and on planes
• Cinemas and theatres
• From 1am Sunday, January 2 they will also be required in other indoor settings, such as:

• In workplaces (unless it is unsafe to do so)
• Pubs, clubs and cafes (except when seated)
• Indoors stadiums and sports arenas (except when seated)
• Libraries
• Hairdressers and nail salons
• Waiting rooms at a medical centre
• In addition, employers are urged to return to work-from-home arrangements where possible.

Access to vulnerable settings including aged care and hospitals is limited to only those who are fully vaccinated except in end of life, childbirth or emergencies.

The Queensland Government is moving forward with the next stage of its strategy for managing COVID-19 patients, including plans to care for most cases at home so hospitals can focus on the seriously ill. The COVID Care Pathways plan was designed to keep Queenslanders safe as case numbers climbed following the easing of border restrictions.

The toolkit has been co-designed with consumers, GPs and our Health and Hospital Services to help people prepare for becoming positive. There are steps Queenslanders can take now to be ready if they test positive.

• Put together a COVID-Ready Kit, including a thermometer, pain relief, and extra supplies of your regular medications
• Fill in a COVID care plan for yourself or your dependents, so your carers can quickly get to the heart of any pre-existing conditions.
• Put in place childcare plans, or who might feed your pets, if you had to isolate or go to hospital.

Learn what you can do to Get COVID-Ready by visiting www.qld.gov.au/covid-ready.

Factsheet: Managing the risk for COVID-19 exposures in businesses and venues

Get COVID-ready with the toolkit designed with consumers, GPs and the Queensland Health and Hospital Services.

Posted in Media Releases