FROM 4pm this afternoon (July 31) the ACT government has imposed a stay-at-home requirement on travellers in response to the Queensland government’s sudden hard lockdown of 11 local government areas in south-east Queensland. 

The stay-at-home requirements will apply to all travellers who have spent any time in the Queensland LGAs on or after July 21.  The affected LGAs are: City of Brisbane, Moreton Bay Region, City of Gold Coast, City of Ipswich, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City, Noosa Shire Council, Redland City, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

At this time, these orders will remain in place until 11.59pm Tuesday 3 August 2021.

ACT Health says reason for the stay-at-home requirement is due to the high transmissibility of the Delta strain, the potential for several undetected chains of transmission in south-east Queensland and an anticipated large number of exposure locations.

Any ACT resident who has spent any time in the any of the 11 LGAs will be required to:

• Complete an online declaration form within 24 hours before arriving in the ACT or within 24 hours from the commencement of the new stay-at-home requirements.
• Travel directly to the residence where you will spend the stay-at-home period. You should only leave the residence for an approved essential purpose. The stay-at-home requirement will be in place until at least 11.59pm on Tuesday (August 3).
• You must wear a mask if leaving your premises for any of these essential purposes, except if you are undertaking vigorous exercise outdoors. Mask wearing is not required for children aged 12 or under.

Travellers who are already in the ACT and who are affected by these restrictions are asked to complete the online declaration form, regardless of whether they have previously completed the form.

The updated declaration form will be available on the ACT COVID-19 website from 7.00pm.

Non-residents seeking to travel to the ACT while the restrictions are in place must not enter the ACT without an approved exemption.

“Exemptions will only be granted for exceptional circumstances, and even if an exemption is approved, you will still be required to follow the stay-at-home requirements while you are in the ACT,” says ACT Health. 

“We are strongly recommending people avoid travel to south-east Queensland at this time. If you must travel for essential reasons, you must abide by all public health directions in place in Queensland and the ACT. This includes changing travel plans and adhering to public health requirements upon your return.”

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