Following an increase of COVID-19 cases in New South Wales and further local restrictions announced by the state government, Queensland is declaring three Local Government Areas a hotspot from 1am Thursday, 22 July.
From 1am Thursday, anyone who has been to the LGAs of Orange, Blayney and Cabonne will not be allowed to enter Queensland unless they are a returning Queensland resident, except for a limited range of people who can enter for an essential purpose.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland was acting cautiously to protect the community from the increased risk of COVID-19.
"The risk in New South Wales is continuing to escalate with more locally acquired cases detected throughout the state," Dr Young said.
"New South Wales has imposed a lockdown and similarly to what we have done in the past, we'll be restricting access to Queensland for people who have been in the Orange City Council, Blayney Shire Council and Cabonne Shire Council areas.
"It is imperative that if you have been to these LGAs, you follow the lockdown rules and don't travel to Queensland.
"We are continuing to assess the situation in New South Wales.
"Please reconsider any travel to NSW – you should only be going if absolutely essential. If you're there already, think about coming home."
Queensland residents, and anyone who is allowed to enter Queensland from nominated hotspots, will be required to go into 14 days mandatory hotel quarantine.
For those entering Queensland from Orange, Blayney and Cabonne before 1am Thursday are asked to immediately get tested and quarantine at home if they have been to any of the exposure venues nominated by the NSW Health Department until receiving a negative result. Plus, for the next 14 days they must check the website for any new venues that might be announced.
