Queensland border closures, mandated masks and pre-flight testing announced by SA officials

As a response to the highly transmissible UK Covid variant, SA officials have announced a series of changes to international and domestic flights, Queensland borders, and mandated masks.

Flights and masks

The suggestion for pre-international flight testing has been approved by the National Cabinet and endorsed by the AHPPC.

According to Premier Steven Marshall, further details on the logistics of pre-flight testing will be released by the Cabinet in the coming days.

Masks will now be mandated in both international and domestic flights, excluding children under 12 or those with pre-existing requirements. This was previously a suggestion.

SA will not be increasing the overall number of repatriated flights. The number of repatriated flights entering SA is already a diminished level to what it was pre-Parafield cluster.

Brisbane border closures

With news of a Brisbane medi-hotel staff member who has tested positive to COVID-19 with the UK strain, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has asked other states to declare a series of Greater Brisbane locations as hotspots.

As of midnight tonight, anyone travelling into SA from Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands will have to quarantine from 14 days.

These locations are also under a stay at home lockdown from 6pm tonight until 6pm Monday night.

South Australians who have travelled to these locations since 2 January will be required to get tested. SA Health will be advising these individuals through SMS.

SA COVID update

SA Health Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier also reported that two cases in SA medi-hotels have tested positive to the UK strain.

SA Health are still determining if one of these new cases us an old infection.

There are currently 12 active cases in SA.

Vaccine rollout

Mr Marshall also stated that the vaccine rollout will be moving ahead with the Pfizer, which will receive registration later this month.

Those eligible for the vaccine will be prioritised through a risk assessment method.