Current Advice for Queensland

From Friday 9 September 2022, the COVID-19 isolation period is 5 days.

 

Previously, from 1am AEST Thursday 30 June 2022, there is no further need under any public health directions to ask customers to check in to your location. All QR codes and posters related to Check In Qld can be removed.

There is no need for your business to cancel your Check In Qld registration.

If you still need customers to provide their vaccination status on entry, there are several ways customers can do this. The Check In Qld app will still be available for customers (just not collecting the data), or customers can access their vaccination certificates in other ways.

 

Previously, 30 May 2022: Changes to hospital visitor restrictions

Employees, volunteers engaged by a healthcare setting (and not by another organisation), and students are not considered visitors, and should follow the requirements of the Workers in a healthcare setting (COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements) Direction.

From 30 May 2022, you can visit a hospital in Queensland regardless of your vaccination status. Restrictions remain if you are:

• an international arrival who is restricted from visiting a vulnerable setting for the first 7 days of arriving in Queensland
• a close contact or diagnosed case who is restricted from visiting a vulnerable setting.

Workers in vulnerable and high-risk settings must be vaccinated and continue to use the Check In Qld app.

However, there are no longer restrictions prohibiting unvaccinated workers and patrons from attending non-essential venues.

Self-imposed restrictions for businesses and venues

If you operate a business or venue in Queensland, you can self-impose rules for patrons and staff and decide to refuse entry to an unvaccinated person. This is not mandated and is the responsibility of the business or venue owner or operator.

Business owners are encouraged to seek their own legal advice if they choose to self-impose rules.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has released detailed advice for employers about mandated vaccinations for workers. This information can be found at Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws.

 

Previously, from 6pm AEST Thursday 28 April 2022, there will be no quarantine requirements for close contacts with no COVID-19 symptoms as long as they

• do not have COVID-19 symptoms
• follow the Guidelines for Close Contacts.

Some requirements (like testing and mask wearing) will continue to be in place.

 

Previously, 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 still be recommended whenever you can’t social distance.

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

 

From 7 February 2022, use of the Check In Qld app is no longer required for Gyms, health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, Pilates, CrossFit boxes, barre, spin facilities dance studios, boot camps and personal training.

They must operate in accordance with the COVID Safe Checklist. Occupant density limit applies – no more than 1 person per 2 square metres for areas open to or used by visitors in indoor spaces.

 

 

From 1am AEST Sunday 2 January masks must be worn indoors everywhere in Queensland, except in your own home or accommodation, and where it is unsafe, such as while doing strenuous exercise.

Masks must be worn when entering or leaving the facilities and can only be removed during strenuous exercise.

If a staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19

• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 must isolate for seven days from the date they tested positive.
• No other staff must quarantine unless they are considered a close contact. Close contact means a person who is a household member or a household-like contact of a diagnosed person. See the definition of a close contact.
• If a staff member is diagnosed or informed of their positive test result outside their home, they must travel directly to the premises they will be isolating at by private transport, ambulance or government arranged transport.

More information from QLD government on managing COVID in your workplace: Managing COVID-19 in workplaces

 

From 17 December 2021, restrictions on businesses will be eased further. Some businesses must apply restrictions for people, including employees, who are not fully vaccinated.

Essential businesses will be able to allow both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

Unvaccinated people will be able to visit and attend:

• essential services (e.g. grocery stores, pharmacies, post offices, newsagents, clothing stores, limited retail stores, gyms and fitness services)

Density restrictions may still apply to:

• gyms and physical fitness centres

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/covid-19-restrictions/vaccination-restrictions

 

Previously, from 4pm Friday 8 October 2021, the Local Government Areas of Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Townsville (including Magnetic Island), and Palm Island will re-join the rest of Queensland on Stage 3 restrictions.

See Stage 3 of Queensland’s COVID Safe Future roadmap.

Current restrictions are in place until 4pm Friday 8 October 2021:

• Stage 2—for Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Townsville (including Magnetic Island), and Palm Island LGAs.
• Stage 3—rest of Queensland, with additional mask requirements in place for the rest of South East Queensland

Read more on restrictions currently in place in South East Queensland including mask wearing requirements.

 

From 28 September with immediate effect – restrictions are imposed for Brisbane and Moreton Bay LGAs. You must carry a mask whenever you leave home and masks must be worn at all indoor public venues and when social distancing isn’t possible.

 

From 4pm Friday 27 August, restrictions have eased in the 11 local government areas in South East Queensland (Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim).

Restrictions are consistent across Queensland, except for additional mask requirements in SEQ.

See Stage 3 – all of Queensland (from 4pm Friday 27 August 2021) of Queensland’s COVID Safe Future roadmap.

For more information on restrictions:

• read more on restrictions in place in South East Queensland – including movements and restrictions, mask wearing requirements and community sports
• find out about home quarantine if you’re a close or casual contact.

 

Previously, from 4pm Friday 20 August 2021 until 4pm Friday 27 August 2021:

Affected Local Government Areas: Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Gold Coast, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Sunshine Coast and Noosa.

Gyms allowed to operate with the following restrictions:

• Indoor – 1 person per 4m2 or 75% capacity with ticketed and allocated seating
• Smaller venues up to 200m2 – 1 person per 2m2, up to a maximum of 50
• Outdoor – 1 person per 2m2
  

Rest of Queensland:

• Indoor – 1 person per 2m2

 

 

FROM 6:01pm Saturday 3 July 2021 to 6:00pm Friday 16 July 2021.

(Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Logan City, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Gold Coast, Townsville (including Magnetic Island) and Palm Island LGAs)

The following additional measures remain in place until 6:00pm on Friday 16 July:

• A mask must be worn at all times when outside of your place of residence, including in workplaces, where safe to wear a mask and you cannot physically distance, on public transport and when doing non‑vigorous exercise.
• Indoor – 1 person per 4m²

Current restrictions for rest of Queensland:

• One person per 2m²
• Masks not mandatory, but advised when physical distancing is not possible.

 

Previously, from 6pm Tuesday 29 June 2021, a 3 day lockdown will be in place for the following Local Government Areas (LGAs):

• Noosa
• Sunshine Coast
• Ipswich
• Logan
• Redlands
• Moreton Bay
• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Scenic Rim
• Lockyer Valley
• Somerset
• Townsville City
• Palm Island Aboriginal Shire

Non-essential businesses including gyms, fitness, Pilates are not allowed to operate. The lockdown restrictions will be reviewed on Friday 2 July.

Previously, from 6am Monday 28 June 2021, Queensland is temporarily increasing restrictions in response to the NSW community outbreak.

• Indoor premises and indoor events: 1 person per 2m2 – or 100% capacity at seated and ticketed venues.

Use of the COVID Safe Checklist is mandatory for restricted businesses and indoor events. Industry plans are not mandatory but may be used for guidance.

From 1am tomorrow (Tuesday 29 June), masks will be required in the following Queensland LGAs: Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Morton, Brisbane, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, and Somerset.

These restrictions will be reviewed on 9 July 2021.

 

Previously, from 5.00pm, Monday 29 March Greater Brisbane, including the Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton and Brisbane council areas, will go into lockdown for three days.

People in Greater Brisbane will only be able to leave their homes for essential reasons like grocery shopping, exercise, work and medical care. Masks will be mandatory in any location indoors — except your home, if you have a medical exemption or if you’re doing strenuous exercise — and on public transport and in ride share vehicles.

Outside of Greater Brisbane masks will be required in crowded areas where you can’t socially distance, inside and on public transport.

Anyone who has been to Greater Brisbane since March 20 needs to follow the lockdown restrictions.

Premier’s statement.

Government Update & Instructions

 

Previously, from 1am Friday 22 January 2021 restrictions are easing for the Greater Brisbane area (Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands). This brings Greater Brisbane back in line with the rest of Queensland.
This means:

• Masks are no longer mandatory, however you are encouraged to wear a mask in any indoor or outdoor space when physical distancing is not possible.
• Businesses may now have one person per 2 square metres on their premises
• Mandatory record keeping is required for tracking and tracing purposes.

Industry plan: Fitness Facilities – Industry COVID Safe Plan

There is no requirement to seek approval on sport specific return to play documentation from Sport and Recreation or Queensland Health prior to recommencing activity. Any organisation undertaking activity in accordance with an industry plan must print, sign and display a Statement of compliance.

 

Previously, Brisbane Update:
From 6:01pm Monday 11 January the Greater Brisbane region will transition to eased restrictions, similar to Stage 3 restrictions Queensland saw in July last year, and will be in place at least until 1am 22 January. You will be allowed to leave your home for any purpose. The following gathering restrictions are in place to keep you and others safe:

• You must carry a mask at all times.
• Masks must be worn in indoor places including shopping centres and supermarkets, gyms, places of worship, libraries, public transport, and taxis and rideshare vehicles.
• Masks must be worn in workplaces if social distancing isn’t possible and it’s safe to do so.
• You don’t need to wear a mask if you’re doing strenuous exercise.
• Businesses and venues can have one person per 4m² indoors and one person per 2m² outdoors.
• Smaller venues up to 200m² can have one person per 2m²up to a maximum of 50.

For more information https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/easing-greater-brisbane-restrictions

Previously, from 6:00pm Friday 08 January 2021 people living in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands will be required to stay home until 6:00pm Monday in a bid to stop the spread of the highly-infectious United Kingdom strain of the virus.
Masks will also be mandatory for people leaving home in the Greater Brisbane area.
Residents have been asked to avoid non-essential activities such as hairdressers, nail salons, cinemas and gyms. Anyone who has been to the Greater Brisbane area since January 2 is also advised to stay at home for the next three days.
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/greater-brisbane-lockdown

 

Previously,

Clarification of density rules:

The total number of people to attend the activity, training and competition at indoor venues is to be based on occupant density of:

• one person per 2 square metres for venues 200 square metres or less (up to a total of 50)
• one person per 4 square metres for venues of 200 square metres or more
• one person per 2 square metres for outdoor venues.

Specific guidance regarding the return of fitness activities can be found in the Return to Play Guide (PDF). The guide outlines a range of requirements for fitness facilities to adhere to.

Saturday 22 August

 

At 12 noon on Friday 3 July 2020, Stage 3 easing of restrictions commenced in Queensland, allowing sport, recreation and fitness organisations when following a COVID Safe Industry Plan:

• resumption of activity including competition and physical contact is permitted on the field of play
• indoor sports facilities can open with one person per 4 square metres (off the field of play)^§
• outdoor sports facilities can open with physical distancing (off the field of play).

 

Previously, Queensland moved to Stage 2 on June 2  with fitness facilities allowed up to 20 people indoors provided no adverse indicators. Stage 3 starts on July 10 with up to 100 people allowed indoors.

Previously, from 15 May the rules provided:

Boot camps, personal training – Limited to 10 people outdoors including the personal trainer, with no more than one person per 4 square metres and with social distancing observed.

Additional requirements for boot camps and personal training:

a.         participants must bring their own equipment where possible (for example, gym mat);
b.         frequent environmental cleaning and disinfecting should be maintained for equipment by personal trainer/boot camp instructor;
c.          no contact sports or contact skills training (for example, boxing with a partner, tackling or wrestling) unless with a member of your household.

Prohibited – indoor sporting centres, including gyms, health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre and spin facilities, water-based spa services (including saunas, bathhouses, non-therapeutic hydrotherapy tubs, whirlpool tubs, steam rooms, steam cabinets, Vichy shower) and wellness centres

On 27th April, the Chief Health Officer’s office advised that personal trainers cannot operate a fitness business (including 1:1 personal training) from their home or from indoors in a commercial setting (gym or studio). It was confirmed on May 20 that this applies to Pilates studios. “Pilates studios are not permitted to operate, this includes one on one sessions. However, if possible, you are able to operate these sessions outdoors.”