The Queensland government will slam its border shut to Victoria after the state went into a seven-day lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak.
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The lockdown will begin at 11.59pm on Thursday, with the state recording 11 new cases linked to the City of Whittlesea outbreak overnight. It takes the total number of cases to 26.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says anyone who has been in Victoria since May 11 will be ordered into hotel quarantine on arrival from 1am on Friday.
"We've been through this before, and I know that people understand that we have to take these measures on the advice... because we want to continue to keep Queenslanders safe," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.
The premier said police would be meeting flights at the state's airports to check if people arriving have been in Victoria, and there will be random checks at road borders.
Arrivals to Queensland since 1am on Thursday have been required to fill out a declaration pass, and those who have been to Victoria in the past 14 days are subject to the same lockdown conditions as the southern state.
It's the first time Queensland has shut the border to a domestic location since travel from Western Australia's Perth and Peel regions was restricted on April 23.
"We've all done this before, we know exactly what's needed. It's kept us safe before, and I'm sure this will keep us safe again," Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said, reaffirming how crucial it is for anyone with symptoms to get tested immediately.
"We don't know what might be out there, but I do know that Queenslanders have always responded really well, and that is why we've done so well because we have picked up the first cases in an outbreak," she said.
There are now about 150 potential exposure sites in Melbourne, and Heath Minister Yvette D'Ath reminded Queenslanders who have been in Victoria to keep checking for the latest advice.
With the state already in talks with the NRL to host the State of Origin opener in 13 days time, Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland was ready to host the nation's top sporting clubs should it be required.
"We are speaking with the AFL and we're more than happy to take more teams as needed... Just as we did last time with the lockdown in Victoria, we are more than happy to accommodate teams where it is safe to do so," she said.
Meanwhile Ms Palaszczuk said she is pleased with progress on the vaccination rollout.
The state administered more than 6200 jabs in the past 24 hours, a "massive increase" in the previous week's average of about 2000, she said.
Mass vaccination hubs are expected to be up and running in coming months.
Queensland reported no new locally acquired virus cases, and two already in hotel quarantine on Thursday.
Australian Associated Press
