By Juliano Oliveira
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has declared Greater Sydney a COVID-19 hotspot increasing to 34 the number of areas whose residents are banned from entering in Queensland.
As of 1 am of Saturday (August 1), travellers who have been in one of these areas within the last 14 days will be turned away at Queensland border unless they are residents.
“We have seen more cases of community transmission spreading across a wider area of Sydney,” the Premier said.
“This includes into areas frequented by tourists, travellers and large numbers of Sydney locals.
“Throughout this pandemic, we have acted quickly to put the health of Queenslanders first.”
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young recommended any Queenslanders currently in these hotspots to go back home before restrictions come into force.
“If you are in Sydney please take this opportunity to come home to the safety of Queensland,” Dr Young said.
“If an area where you are staying or visiting is suddenly declared a hotspot while you are there, once you return to Queensland, you will have to quarantine for two weeks in a hotel at your own expense,” she said.
The fees for two weeks of accommodation, meals and room cleaning are $2,800 for one adult; $3,710 for two adults in the same room; and $4,620 for two adults and two children in the same room.
New cases
In the morning, health authorities also announced two new coronavirus cases overnight. Two young women who returned from Melbourne via Sydney.
One is an employee at Parklands Christian College on Brisbane’s southside. Queensland Health is working closely with the school which has temporarily closed until further notice.
“I’m absolutely furious that this has happened. That these two people have gone to Victoria, have come back and have given misleading information to authorities,” she said.
“I also want to say now that it is going to cause a lot of inconvenience to families but it is too important and we must protect Queenslanders.”
People living on Brisbane’s south side, particularly in Logan and Springfield Lakes regions, are being urged to get tested immediately.
Any individuals who were present at the below locations at the relevant times are asked to immediately self-quarantine and contact 13 HEALTH.
| Detail | Suburb | Date | Time |
| FLIGHTS VA863 – Mel – Syd VA977 – Syd – Bne | 21 July 2020 | ||
| Parklands Christian College | Park Ridge | 22-23 July 2020 | 9.30am-6pm |
| Madtongsan IV Restaurant | Sunnybank | 23 July 2020 | 7-9pm |
| Heeretea -Bubble Tea Shop | Sunnybank | 23 July 2020 | 9.25pm |
| YMCA Chatswood Hills Outside School Hours Care | Springwood | 23-24 July 2020 | All |
| Primary Medical and Dental Practice | Browns Plains | 24 July 2020 | 3.30-3.50pm |
| Thai Peak Restaurant | Springfield | 26 July 2020 | 6.30-9pm |
| Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar | Southbank | 27 July 2020 | All |
| P’Nut Street Noodles | Southbank | 27 July 2020 | All |
| African Grocery Shop | Woodridge (Station Rd) | 28 July 2020 | All |
| Primary Medical and Dental Practice | Browns Plains | 28 July 2020 | 12.25-12.30pm |
| Chatime Grand Plaza | Browns Plains | 28 July 2020 | All |
Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild, must get tested. A number of Fever Clinic times have been extended:
| Location | Time | Day |
| Orion Springfield Central Shopping Centre western car park (pop up clinic) | 9am-4pm | Thursday 30 July-Sunday 2 August |
| Parklands Fever Clinic (school community testing) | Closes 7pm tonight Opens 9am tomorrow | Wednesday 29 July Thursday 30 July |
| QEII Hospital Fever Clinic | 8am-8pm | Wednesday 29 July-Friday 31 July |
| Logan Hospital Fever Clinic | 8am-9pm | Wednesday 29 July-Thursday 30 July |