Current as of April 29, 2022
Latest close contact rules
You are considered a close contact if:
You are living with someone infected with the virus.
You have spent four hours or longer with someone in a home, or a health or aged-care setting since they developed COVID.
The following changes to Queensland's COVID-19 close contact rules are currently in effect:
Close contacts no longer required to quarantine provided they have no symptoms.
If you're a close contact, you can continue your daily routine provided that you:
Test negative every second day for a week from the day of becoming a close contact (day 0, 2, 4 and 6). A self-test using a RAT kit will be allowed, testing does not need to occur at a testing clinic.
Wear a mask outside of home for seven days.
Don’t visit any vulnerable settings for seven days.
Let your employer know you are a close contact, and work from home if possible.
Anyone who has any COVID-19 symptoms must isolate at home until symptoms resolve, even if they test negative on a RAT.
Latest international arrivals rules
International arrivals (vaccinated or unvaccinated) don't need to quarantine provided that they:
Have no COVID-19 symptoms
Test negative within 24 hours of arriving, or if any symptoms develop
Don’t visit any vulnerable settings for seven days
Anyone who has any COVID-19 symptoms must isolate at home until symptoms resolve, even if they test negative on a RAT.
Eased restrictions
As of 1:00am April 14, people will no longer need to prove they have had two doses of a vaccine before heading into cafes, pubs and clubs. This also includes theme parks, casinos, cinemas, weddings, showgrounds, stadiums, galleries, libraries and museums.
The mandate will still apply for vulnerable settings including schools, hospitals, correctional and aged care facilities.
As of Friday, March 4, 2022, the following face mask rules will be instigated as per the Queensland government:
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 the aforementioned face mask rules are officially implemented, you must wear a mask indoors everywhere in Queensland. This includes:
All indoor workplaces
Public transport and rideshare
Supermarkets and retail shops
Hospitality venues including pubs, clubs and cafes
Cinemas and theatres
Indoor stadium, sports arena or sports centre
Gyms and sport activities
Vulnerable settings like hospitals and aged care
Schools, childcare and other education facilities
Airports and on planes
Critical essential workers who are close contacts permitted to work
Critical essential workers in Queensland who are deemed close contacts are allowed to work, under new rules in Queensland. However this does come with some caveats as follows:
You must be asymptomatic
You must work in a critical industry AND be classified as a critical essential worker by your employer
You're only released from quarantine to go to work but not for any other reason
You must be fully vaccinated and wear PPE at all times
You are not permitted to use public transport - therefore you must travel to work in personal transport or transport organised by your employer
Critical essential work includes:
health (private hospitals included)
emergency services
resource sector
power and utilities
agriculture and fisheries
production
freight and logistics
public transport
teachers
essential retail such as supermarkets
and stores in remote locations and communities
Return to school
The Back to School plan will take place between February 7 and March 4, and will cover Kindergarten on school sites, Prep to Year 12 and Early Childhood Development Programs.
The key features of the plan that you need to know include:
Priority access to Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) at Queensland Health testing clinics for students and staff who have COVID-19 symptoms.
RATs available in schools for students and staff who develop symptoms while on site.
Mandatory mask wearing for staff in all schools, and all high school students.
Masks supplied and strongly encouraged for students in Years 3 to 6.
Suspension of school camps, excursions, assemblies, and large gatherings.
Limiting visitors on school sites, with exceptions for parents and carers of students experiencing vulnerability, and all students attending Early Childhood Development Programs, Kindergarten, Prep or Year 1 students.
Limiting face-to-face staff meetings, professional development, and face-to-face parent-teacher interviews.
All these new measures are in addition to the COVID-safe measures already in place.
Curriculum activities and school sport will continue as normal during this time.
Helpful information:
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, should get tested as soon as possible.
All eligible people can book a vaccination appointment.
Check any travel requirements and border restrictions for QLD.
If you experience financial hardship due to lockdowns you may be entitled to financial support from the government. Find out more here.
The Check In QLD app is mandatory across Queensland for most venues. The app is available to download from the App Store and Google Play, to help keep Queenslanders and visitors COVID Safe when we’re enjoying venues like pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes across Queensland.
Stay updated by visiting the QLD Government website.
If you have any questions or need extra support, we're here to help you anytime in any language. Simply start a chat with us via the home screen of the Sonder app.