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Qld brings in new virus travel pass

Nick GibbsAAP
Queensland arrivals will need a border declaration pass as the state adopts a traffic light system.
Camera IconQueensland arrivals will need a border declaration pass as the state adopts a traffic light system. Credit: AAP

All arrivals to Queensland will soon need a border declaration pass as the state moves to minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading from interstate.

The new requirement comes into effect from 1am on Saturday, while those considering travelling to Sydney have been told to reconsider.

Current restrictions on arrivals from Greater Melbourne will stay in place for at least the next week.

Queensland's new travel declaration system mirrors that used in Victoria, with a green or amber pass to be issued depending on where arrivals have been.

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"A green pass indicates the individual has not been to any COVID hotspot and can travel freely into the state," Health Minister Yvette D'Ath told parliament on Thursday.

"An amber pass will be issued in the circumstances that someone is travelling to Queensland and has been to an interstate exposure site and applies particular quarantine conditions on the person when they arrive."

Declared hotspots are red zones with no travel permitted and exemptions will apply to residents in border communities.

"The Queensland travel declaration will be extremely useful in ensuring that when interstate exposure sites are declared ... we can swiftly contact arrivals," Ms D'Ath said.

Queensland is expecting more than 70 flights to arrive from Sydney on Thursday.

Officials are seeking to find out how a Bondi man - who had not been overseas but who transported international flight crews - contracted COVID-19.

NSW Health was also notified late on Wednesday that a household contact of the man also tested positive for coronavirus.

Victoria recorded no new coronavirus cases ahead of restrictions easing further on Friday.

Queensland recorded six new cases in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of active cases to 26.

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