Queensland Is Introducing Home Quarantine, But Only If You Live In A Free-Standing House
The decision is based on the heightened risk of transmission in apartments.
Don’t go planning your Gold Coast holiday too soon because it turns out Queensland’s border policy is much more limiting than first thought.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the state’s “vaccine plan to unite families” on Monday, outlining how border restrictions — both domestic and international — will ease at 70, 80, and 90 percent.
From 70 percent double dose, domestic travellers will be given the option to quarantine at home, rather than in a hotel, if they’re fully vaccinated and test negative 72 hours prior to arrival.
However, in an interview with RN Breakfast‘s Fran Kelly, Deputy Premier Steven Miles clarified that this option will only be afforded to those living in free-standing homes.
When asked whether Queenslanders living in apartments, terraces, or townhouses could quarantine at home, Miles confirmed that the government will stick to the plan — which has been described as “limiting”.
“Not at this stage, no,” Miles told RN Breakfast.
According to Miles, the reason for the decision is due to the heightened risk of transmission in communal areas.
“Yeah, we are at this stage because the risk, of course, of mingling through corridors and lifts and that kind of thing in apartments is significant,” he told RN Breakfast, confirming that the government will stick to the plan until 80 percent double dose.
“Most Queenslanders do live in free-standing homes, but obviously there are people who won’t be able to access home quarantine under these conditions.
“Not until we hit the 80 percent threshold when we consider the risks.”
According to the 2016 census, as many as 17.4 percent of occupied apartments in Australia are located in Queensland. These apartments account for the primary residence of 356,233 Australians, which is nothing to scoff at.
And considering the fact that apartment dwellers, on average, bring home $246 less per week than those living in free-standing homes, it cannot be disregarded that apartment living is often a financial decision.
Thankfully, the state should only be under such strict border restrictions until December 17, when domestic arrivals will be exempt from quarantine requirements if they’re fully vaccinated.
No such rules for home quarantine have been implemented in other states and territories.