Restrictions for Impacted Areas (No. 18) Direction

This direction has been superseded on 8 September 2021. See the current Restrictions for Impacted Areas (No. 19) Direction.

Summary

Effective from: 9:30pm AEST 30 September 2021

Posted: 30 September 2021

Superseded on: 8 September 2021

Direction from Chief Health Officer in accordance with emergency powers arising from the declared public health emergency

Public Health Act 2005 (Qld)

Section 362B

On 29 January 2020, under the Public Health Act 2005, the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services made an order declaring a public health emergency in relation to coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The public health emergency area specified in the order is for ‘all of Queensland’. Its duration has been extended by regulation to 26 December 2021 and may be further extended.

Further to this declaration, l, Dr Jeannette Young, Chief Health Officer, reasonably believe it is necessary to give the following direction pursuant to the powers under s 362B of the Public Health Act 2005 to assist in containing, or to respond to, the spread of COVID-19 within the community.

Guidance

This direction applies to people living in, or who have been in, or who reside with someone who has been in, an impacted area or high-risk impacted area by requiring them to a wear face mask.

The impacted areas are Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Noosa Shire Council, Redland City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council, and Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

The high-risk impacted areas are Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council and Townsville City Council.

Citation

  1. This Public Health Direction may be referred to as the Restrictions for Impacted Areas (No. 18) Direction.

Revocation

  1. The Restrictions for Impacted Areas (No. 17) (SEQ restrictions) Direction made on 28 September 2021 is revoked and is replaced by this Direction from the time of publication of this Direction.

Commencement and application

  1. This Direction applies from the time of publication of this Direction until the end of the declared public health emergency, unless it is revoked or replaced.

    Note: restrictions have been in place in impacted areas in South-East Queensland since 1:00 am on 31 July 2021 and face masks have been required since 29 June 2021 under the revoked Restrictions for Impacted Areas (No. 12) (SEQ eased restrictions Stage 1) Direction and its predecessor directions.

  2. To the extent of any inconsistency between this Direction and the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28), Movement and Gathering Direction (No. 12), or their successors, or another public health direction made under section 362B of the Public Health Act 2005, this Direction prevails.

PART 1— FACE MASKS (IMPACTED AREAS)

  1. This part applies to a person who:

    1. is in an impacted area; or

    2. is not in an impacted area but has been in an impacted area at any time from 1:00am on 29 June 2021, unless 14 days have passed since the person was in the impacted area; or

    3. resides in the same household as a person who has been in an impacted area at any time from 1:00am on 29 June 2021, unless 14 days have passed since that person was in the impacted area.

      Note: face mask requirements have been in place for people in impacted areas in South-East Queensland since 1:00 am on 29 June 2021 under the revoked Restrictions for Impacted Areas (No. 12) (SEQ eased restrictions Stage 1) Direction and its predecessors.

  2. See paragraph 34 for when a person has been in an impacted area.

  3. A person mentioned in paragraph 5 must:

    1. carry a face mask at all times; and

    2. must wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth at all times if they are in an indoor space or an outdoor space including:

      1. if they are on public transport infrastructure or at public transport infrastructure; or

        Example – when on a train or waiting at a train platform.

      2. if they are in a commercial passenger vehicle or waiting in a designated outdoor space that is not a residence for a commercial passenger vehicle; or

        Example – waiting for a taxi at a taxi rank, waiting for a rideshare at a designated pick-up area.

        Example – a person sitting at their desk in a workplace can remove their face mask. If they need to stand up and walk to the kitchen, they must wear a face mask.

        Note – a driver of a commercial passenger vehicle must wear a face mask.

      3. if they have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19; or

      4. if they are required to do so in accordance with any other Public Health Directions in effect under section 362B of the Public Health Act 2005; or

        Example – under the Mandatory Face Masks Direction (No. 2) or its successors, a person must wear a face mask at all times while on a domestic commercial aircraft flying in Queensland airspace.

      5. if they are directed to do so by an emergency officer (public health).

  4. The requirements under paragraph 6 do not apply:

    1. to infants and children under the age of 12 years; or

    2. to a person who is seated in an indoor space including a workplace but excluding public transport infrastructure and commercial passenger vehicles unless required by another Public Health Direction in effect under section 362B of the Public Health Act 2005; or

      Example – a person who is seated at their desk at their workplace may remove their face mask. If they leave their desk to move to another area, they must wear a face mask. A person who is seated in a cinema, restaurant or entertainment venue may remove their face mask. If they leave their seat to move about the venue they must wear their mask.

      Note – the Residential Aged Care Direction (No. 8) or its successors requires staff to wear face masks in certain circumstances.

      Note – see definition of workplace – staff at a retail food service must wear face masks if they interact with patrons.

      Note – an indoor space that is a workplace includes a classroom, childcare room and shared indoor area at a school or childcare centre.

    3. to a person in an indoor space that is a residence or temporary accommodation unless required by another Public Health Direction in effect under section 362B of the Public Health Act 2005; or

    4. to a person who is seated in an outdoor space; or

    5. to a person moving about in an outdoor space including a workplace, if the person can maintain physical distance from people who are not members of their household; or

    6. to a person travelling alone in a private vehicle or with only the members of their household; or

    7. to a person who is eating or drinking while seated at a Sports Stadium; or

    8. to primary school students, in prep and from grade 1 up to and including grade 6, onsite at an education premises or attending outside school hours care; or

    9. to teachers and staff onsite at education premises and educators and staff in childcare centres, in circumstances where they can maintain physical distancing; or

      Note – where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication, and physical distancing cannot be maintained, a face shield should be used by the teacher/staff/educator in the school or childcare centre.

    10. to high school students onsite at an education premises where they can maintain physical distancing or when they are seated; or

    11. to a prisoner in a corrective services facility, subject to any policies or requirements of that facility; or

    12. to a detainee in a detention centre, subject to any policies or requirements of that centre; or

    13. to a resident of a residential aged care facility or a shared disability accommodation service, subject to any policies or requirements of a facility or service; or

    14. to a person who has a physical or mental health illness or condition, or disability, which makes wearing a face mask unsuitable; or

      Examples – persons who have obstructed breathing, a serious skin condition on their face, an intellectual disability, a mental health illness, or who have experienced trauma.

    15. to a person communicating with those who are deaf or hard of hearing, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication; or

      Note – a face shield should be used instead.

    16. if the nature of a person’s work or education means that clear enunciation or visibility of the mouth is essential; or

      Example – live broadcasting.

      Note – teachers and staff in schools, and educators and staff in child-care centres are covered by paragraph 7(b) or 7(o) where applicable.

    17. if the person is consuming food, drink or medicine; or

      Note – despite paragraph 7(q), a person must be seated to remove their face mask to consume food or drinks at a Sports Stadium.

    18. if a person is undergoing dental or medical care or treatment to the extent that such care or treatment requires that no face mask be worn; or

    19. if a person is receiving a service from a business, activity or undertaking which is permitted to operate under and is operating in accordance with, this Direction, to the extent that it is not reasonably practicable to receive that service wearing a face mask; or

    20. if a person is providing a service from a business, activity or undertaking which is permitted to operate under, and is operating in accordance with Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28) or its successors, to the extent that it is not reasonably practicable to receive that service wearing a face mask; or

    21. if a person is asked to remove the face mask to ascertain identity; or

      Examples – a person may be asked by police, security, or airport staff to remove a face mask to ascertain identity or when purchasing alcohol or cigarettes.

    22. to a person engaged in strenuous physical exercise; or

      Example – exercise in or above the aerobic zone including high-intensity interval training, cycling, running.

    23. to a person for whom wearing a face mask would create any other serious risk to that person’s life or health and safety, including if determined through work Occupational Health and Safety guidelines; or

      Examples – a person who is swimming in an indoor pool or undertaking work where a face mask could become tangled in machinery.

    24. to a person being married while in the process of being married; or

    25. for emergency purposes; or

      Examples – a person escaping a fire or a risk of harm related to domestic and family violence or sexual violence.

    26. if required or authorised by law; or

    27. if doing so is not safe in all the circumstances.

  5. A person who removes their face mask under paragraph 7 must resume wearing the face mask as soon as practicable after the circumstance ends.

    Examples – a person must resume wearing a face mask as soon as they finish eating, broadcasting or receiving medical care.

    Note – For further information on the use of face masks, please refer to the Queensland Health website as updated from time to time: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/face-masks.

PART 2 — FACE MASKS (HIGH-RISK IMPACTED AREAS)

  1. This part applies to a person who:

    1. is in a high-risk impacted area; or

    2. is not in a high-risk impacted area but has been in a high-risk impacted area at any time from 1:00am on 19 September 2021, unless 14 days have passed since the person was in the high-risk impacted area; or

    3. resides in the same household as a person who has been in a high-risk impacted area at any time from 1:00am on 19 September 2021, unless 14 days have passed since that person was in the high-risk impacted area.

      See paragraph 34 for when a person has been in a high-risk impacted area.

  2. A person mentioned in paragraph 9 must:

    1. carry a face mask at all times; and

    2. wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth at all times if they are in an indoor space or an outdoor space including:

      1. if they are on public transport infrastructure or at public transport infrastructure; or

        Example – when on a train or waiting at a train platform.

      2. if they are in a commercial passenger vehicle or waiting in a designated outdoor space that is not a residence for a commercial passenger vehicle; or

        Example – waiting for a taxi at a taxi rank, waiting for a rideshare at a designated pick-up area.

        Note – a driver of a commercial passenger vehicle must wear a face mask.

      3. if they have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19; or

      4. if they are required to do so in accordance with any other Public Health Directions in effect under section 362B of the Public Health Act 2005; or

        Example – under the Mandatory Face Masks Direction (No. 2) or its successors, a person must wear a face mask at all times while on a domestic commercial aircraft flying in Queensland airspace.

      5. are directed to do so by an emergency officer (public health).

  3. The requirements under paragraph 10 do not apply:

    1. to infants and children under the age of 12 years; or

    2. to a person in an indoor space that is a residence or temporary accommodation or if required by another Public Health Direction in effect under section 362B of the Public Health Act 2005; or

      Note – the Residential Aged Care Direction (No. 9) or its successors requires staff to wear a face mask in certain circumstances.

      Note – see definition of workplace – staff at a retail food service must wear a face mask if they interact with patrons.

    3. to a person in an indoor space, and there is no other person present other than another household member; or

      Example: a person working alone in a closed office at a workplace does not need to wear a face mask.

      Note – teachers and staff in schools, and educators and staff in child-care centres must wear a face mask at all times when in an indoor space, even if they can practise physical distancing but may remove the mask if they are alone in a room or office.

    4. to a person in an outdoor space, including a workplace, if the person can maintain physical distance from people who are not members of their household;

    5. to a person travelling alone in a private vehicle or with only the members of their household; or

    6. to primary school students, in prep and from grade 1 up to and including grade 6, onsite at an education premises or attending outside school hours care; or

    7. to a prisoner in a corrective services facility, subject to any policies or requirements of that facility; or

    8. to a detainee in a detention centre, subject to any policies or requirements of that centre; or

    9. to a resident of a residential aged care facility or a shared disability accommodation service, subject to any policies or requirements of a facility or service; or

    10. to a person who has a physical or mental health illness or condition, or disability, which makes wearing a face mask unsuitable; or

      Examples – persons who have obstructed breathing, a serious skin condition on their face, an intellectual disability, a mental health illness, or who have experienced trauma.

    11. to a person communicating with those who are deaf or hard of hearing, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication; or

      Note – a face shield should be used instead.

    12. if the nature of a person’s work or education means that clear enunciation or visibility of the mouth is essential; or

      Example – live broadcasting.

      Note – despite paragraph 11(l), teachers and staff in schools, and educators and staff in child-care centres must wear a face mask at all times including during face-to-face learning except where paragraph 11(k) applies.

    13. if the person is consuming food, drink or medicine; or

      Note – despite paragraph 11(m), a person must be seated to remove their face mask to consume food or drinks at a Sports Stadium.

    14. to a person who is eating or drinking while seated at a Sports Stadium; or

    15. if a person is undergoing dental or medical care or treatment to the extent that such care or treatment requires that no face mask be worn; or

    16. if a person is receiving a service from a business, activity or undertaking which is permitted to operate under and is operating in accordance with, this Direction, to the extent that it is not reasonably practicable to receive that service wearing a face mask; or

    17. if a person is providing a service from a business, activity or undertaking which is permitted to operate under, and is operating in accordance with, Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28) or its successors, to the extent that it is not reasonably practicable to receive that service wearing a face mask; or

    18. if a person is asked to remove the face mask to ascertain identity; or

      Examples – a person may be asked by police, security, or airport staff to remove a face mask to ascertain identity or when purchasing alcohol or cigarettes.

    19. to a person engaged in strenuous physical exercise; or

      Example – exercise in or above the aerobic zone including high-intensity interval training, cycling, running.

    20. to a person for whom wearing a face mask would create any other serious risk to that person’s life or health and safety, including if determined through work Occupational Health and Safety guidelines; or

      Examples – a person who is swimming in an indoor pool or undertaking work where a face mask could become tangled in machinery.

    21. to a person being married while in the process of being married; or

    22. for emergency purposes; or

      Examples – a person escaping a fire or a risk of harm related to domestic and family violence or sexual violence.

    23. if required or authorised by law; or

    24. if doing so is not safe in all the circumstances.

  4. A person who removes their face mask under paragraph 11 must resume wearing the face mask as soon as practicable after the circumstance ends.

    Examples – a person must resume wearing a face mask as soon as they finish eating, broadcasting or receiving medical care.

    Note – For further information on the use of face masks, please refer to the Queensland Health website as updated from time to time: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/face-masks.

PART 3— MOVEMENT AND GATHERING (HIGH-RISK IMPACTED AREAS)

  1. This part applies to a person mentioned in paragraph 9.

Receiving visitors at a residence

  1. Subject to paragraphs 15 and 16, a person who is an owner, resident, tenant, occupier, temporary occupier or person in control of a residence must not organise or allow a gathering of more than 30 people including the members of the person’s household at the residence.

    Example – visitors who are family members or close friends

    Note – relatives staying temporarily from another State or Territory at the time of commencement of this Direction are included as part of the household for the purposes of this Direction.

  2. Paragraph 14 does not prevent a worker or volunteer entering a place of residence and they are not counted for the purpose of paragraph 14.

  3. Paragraph 14 does not apply to a residential aged care facility, hospital or shared disability accommodation service. Paragraph 14 does not apply to an approved family day care service or stand-alone care service only for the purposes of conducting a business.

    Note – The Residential Aged Care Direction (No.9), Disability Accommodation Services Direction (No. 23) and the Hospital Entry Direction (No.4) or their successors restrict visitors to those facilities. Other Public Health Directions may be made applying to other types of facilities.

  4. An owner, resident, tenant, occupier, temporary occupier or person in control of premises, including a residence, must take reasonable steps to encourage occupants of, and visitors to, the premises to practise physical distancing to the extent reasonably practicable.

Physical distancing

  1. A person who is leaving their principal place of residence must practise physical distancing while outside their principal place of residence, to the extent reasonably practicable and wear a face mask as required by Part 2.

Quarantine

  1. A person who is required to quarantine under another Public Health Direction or a direction of an emergency officer under the Public Health Act 2005, must comply with the terms of the direction to quarantine and may not leave the premises in which they are quarantining unless permitted under the terms of those orders or directions.

PART 4 – DIRECTION – RESTRICTED BUSINESSESS, ACTIVITIES AND UNDERTAKINGS (HIGH-RISK IMPACTED AREAS)

  1. This part applies to a person mentioned in paragraph 9.

  2. A restricted business, activity or undertaking for this Direction is a business, activity or undertaking specified in column 1 of Schedule 4.

  3. A person who owns, controls or operates a restricted business, activity or undertaking in a high-risk impacted area, including operating at a private residence, or in a public space, may operate the business, activity or undertaking in accordance with:

    1. any restrictions or allowances listed in column 2 of Schedule 4; and

    2. the occupant density requirements in paragraph 26 and

    3. the COVID Safe requirements in paragraphs 27 and 28; and

    4. the requirement to collect contact information as specified in paragraph 29; and

    5. public health controls.

  4. A person who owns, controls or operates a business, activity or undertaking in an impacted area that is not specified in Schedule 3 of this Direction but is a restricted business, activity or undertaking in the Restrictions on Business, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28) or its successor must comply with the requirements in that Direction and subject to any other requirements in this Direction such as face masks.

    Example: a business offering retail goods and services such as a shopping centre or a supermarket, and a public facing government service such as a transport customer service centre, must continue to collect contact information.

  5. To the extent of any inconsistency:

    1. this Direction prevails over the Restrictions on Business, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28); and

    2. this Direction prevails over a COVID Safe Checklist, COVID Safe Event Checklist, COVID Safe Site Specific Plan and COVID Safe Professional Sporting Code Plan.

      Example – a Site Specific Plan or a COVID Safe Checklist may refer to an occupant density of no more than one person per two square metres in settings such as restaurants. However, a restaurant may only have one person per 4 square metres indoors in accordance with this Direction.

  6. An essential business, activity or undertaking in an impacted area may otherwise operate as normal, with physical distancing observed and subject to any other requirements in this Direction such as a face mask and any other requirements in other public health directions such collecting contact information.

    Note: See Definitions Schedule 1 – an essential business, activity or undertaking means a business, activity or undertaking that is not prohibited under Schedule 4.

Occupant density requirements

  1. Occupant density means:

    Indoor spaces
    1. in an indoor space of 200 square metres or less, no more than 1 person per 2 square metres (up to a maximum of 50 people) for areas open to or used by guests or patrons; and

    2. in an indoor space over 200 square metres, the greater of –

      1. no more than 1 person per 4 square metres for areas open to or used by guests or patrons; or

      2. up to 75 per cent of seated venue capacity provided all guests or patrons are in ticketed and allocated seating.

    3. Example of an area open to or used by guests - for a cafe or restaurant, the dining area, but not the kitchen.

    Outdoor spaces
    1. for outdoor spaces or venues, the greater of –

      1. no more than 1 person per 2 square metres for areas used by guests or patrons; or

      2. up to 75 per cent of seated venue capacity provided all guests or patrons are in ticketed and allocated seating.

    2. Example – outdoor venues and spaces include outdoor dining, beer gardens, theme parks and zoos.

    Wedding ceremonies and funerals
    1. for wedding ceremonies and funerals, density is limited to a maximum of 100 people irrespective of occupant density.

Seated patrons

  1. A person who owns, controls or operates a restricted business, activity or undertaking in a high-risk impacted area that serves food or drink must operate for seated patrons only, including operating in an outdoor space.

    Example – bar, restaurant, café, pubs.

COVID Safe Checklist

  1. A person who owns, controls or operates a restricted business, activity or undertaking in a high-risk impacted area must operate the business, activity or undertaking in accordance with the Covid Safe Checklist - Impacted Areas or, for an event, the COVID Safe Event Checklist – Impacted Areas unless a different plan or checklist is specified in Schedule 4.

Collection of contact information

  1. A person who owns, controls or operates a restricted business, activity or undertaking in an impacted area must collect contact information in accordance with the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28), or its successor.

    Note: the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28), requires businesses to use the Check In Qld app (exceptions apply in certain circumstances).

Dancing

  1. A person who owns, controls or operates a restricted business, activity or undertaking in a high-risk impacted area must not operate an area for dancing.

    Example – a nightclub must not operate an area for dancing but may use the space for seated dining or drinking.

  2. Despite paragraph 30, a person who owns, controls or operates a restricted business, activity or undertaking in a high-risk impacted area may allow dancing at a:

    • wedding ceremony or wedding reception, limited to a maximum of 20 people; or

    • dance studio or dance class, subject to occupant density; or

    • performers as part of a performance.

PART 5 – EXEMPTIONS

  1. The Chief Health Officer, Deputy Chief Health Officer or their delegate may give a person or class of persons an exemption from a requirement of this Direction if extreme exceptional circumstances exist.

  2. An exemption may be given on conditions and if so, the person given the exemption must comply with the conditions.

PART 6 – OTHER MATTERS

  1. A person is taken to have been in an impacted area or high-risk impacted area unless the person only:

    1. arrived in an impacted area or high-risk impacted area by air for the sole purpose of:

      1. transiting through an airport in the impacted area, wore a face mask at all times and did not leave the confines of the airport; or

      2. leaving the confines of the airport to go directly by road using private transport to leave the impacted area or high-risk impacted area without exiting their vehicle, except to stop for essential fuel and fatigue management while wearing face mask at all times; or

    2. arrived in an impacted area or high-risk impacted area by road and used private transport to travel directly to the relevant terminal entrance of an airport in an impacted area or high-risk impacted area, did not stop in the impacted area or high-risk impacted area until arriving at the terminal entrance except for essential fuel and fatigue management while wearing a face mask, to depart the impacted area or high-risk impacted area by air; or

    3. transited through the impacted area by road using private transport and did not exit their vehicle while in the impacted area or high-risk impacted area except for essential fuel and fatigue management and wore a face mask at all times when outside their vehicle.

  2. Definitions used in this Direction are in Schedule 1.

PART 7 – PENALTIES

A person to whom the direction applies commits an offence if the person fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the direction.

Section 362D of the Public Health Act 2005 provides:

Failure to comply with public health directions

  • A person to whom a public health direction applies must comply with the direction unless the person has a reasonable excuse.
  • Maximum penalty—100 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment.

Dr Jeannette Young
Chief Health Officer

30 September 2021

Published on the Queensland Health website at 9:30pm

SCHEDULE 1 – DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Public Health Direction:

Approved family day care service has the same meaning as in the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland).

Commercial passenger vehicle means a taxi, rideshare or commercial shuttle service.

Confines of the airport means the terminal or terminals of an airport used for the arrival and departure of aircraft and passengers by air, or the area of an airport that the person uses to transfer directly between terminals.

Example: a person did not leave the confines of the airport if they stay in a passenger terminal until their next flight or transferred directly between terminals to depart on their flight. However, a person leaves the confines of the airport if they go to a hotel in the airport precinct and stay overnight.

Contact information means the contact information collected in accordance with the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28) or its successor.

Corrective services facility has the same meaning as in the Corrective Services Act 2006.

Covid Safe Checklist - Impacted Areas means the COVID Safe Checklist: Restricted Business - Impacted areas and Lockdown Areas published on the Queensland Health website: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/covid-safe-checklist-for-restricted-businesses#_covid-safe-checklist-restricted-businesses-impacted-areas

Covid Safe Event Checklist - Impacted Areas means the COVID Safe Checklist for impacted areas published on the Queensland Health website: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/covid-safe-events#_indoor-outdoor-events-impacted-areas

COVID Safe Checklist has the same meaning as Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28) or its successors.

COVID Safe Event Checklist has the same meaning as Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28) or its successors.

COVID Safe Professional Sporting Code Plan has the same meaning as Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28) or its successors.

COVID Safe Site Specific Plan has the same meaning as Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 28) or its successors.

Detention centre has the same meaning as in the Youth Justice Act 1992.

Emergency officer (public health) means an emergency officer appointed under the Public Health Act 2005.

Essential business, activity or undertaking means a business, activity or undertaking that is not prohibited under Schedule 4.

Face mask means a flat surgical mask, P2/N95 mask or a cloth mask with three layers that covers the nose and mouth (but does not include a face shield).

Example – a scarf or bandana is not a face mask.

Gathering means a gathering of more than 30 persons in a single undivided outdoor space or indoor space at the same time, but does not include a gathering:

  1. at an airport that is necessary for the normal business of the airport;

  2. for the purposes of or related to public transportation, including in vehicles or at public transportation facilities such as stations, platforms and stops;

  3. at a medical or health service facility that is necessary for the normal business of the facilities;

  4. for the purposes of emergency services or disaster management;

  5. at a residential aged care facility or a shared disability accommodation service, that is necessary for the normal business of the facility or residence;

  6. at a prison, corrective services facility, detention centre or other place of custody;

  7. at a court or tribunal;

  8. for the purposes of an investigation or action by a law enforcement authority;

  9. for the purposes of complying with or giving effect to the exercise of power or function of a government agency or entity under a law;

  10. for the purposes of national security;

  11. at Parliament for the purpose of its normal operations;

  12. at a business, facility or service operating in accordance with, or not restricted under, the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities or Undertakings Direction (No. 29), or its successor, or another Public Health Direction;

    Example – wedding, funeral, accommodation facilities, retail store, shopping centre

  13. at a workplace, including but not limited to an office building, factory, manufacturing facility, resource extraction, mine or mineral processing facility, utilities or construction sites that is necessary for the normal operation of those premises;

  14. at a school, university, educational institution or childcare facility, that is necessary for the normal business of the facility;

  15. at an indoor place where persons may be present for the purposes of transiting through the place;

    Example – Central Station

  16. specified as exempt from this direction by the Chief Health Officer in writing.

High-risk impacted area means an area specified in Schedule 3 of this Direction consisting of the local government areas whose names and boundaries are provided for by the Local Government Regulation 2012.

Hospital means:

  1. a hospital, as defined in schedule 2 to the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011; or

  2. a private health facility, as defined in section 8 of the Private Health Facilities Act 1999; or

  3. a multi-purpose service, as defined in section 104 of the Subsidy Principles 2014 made under section 96-1 of the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth).

Household means persons who ordinarily live at the same residence, including if family or kinship customs or cultural obligations have the effect of a person living across multiple residences and includes people residing at the residence at the commencement of this Direction.

Example – relatives staying temporarily from another State or Territory at the time of commencement of this Direction are included as part of the household for the purposes of this Direction.

Impacted area means an area specified in Schedule 2 of this Direction consisting of the local government areas whose names and boundaries are provided for by the Local Government Regulation 2012.

Indoor space means an area, room or premises that is or are substantially enclosed by a roof and walls, regardless of whether the roof or walls or any part of them are:

  1. permanent or temporary; or

  2. open or closed.

Occupant density see paragraph 26.

Outdoor space means a space that is not an indoor space.

Physical distancing includes remaining at least 1.5 metres away from other persons where possible.

Premises has the same meaning as in Schedule 2 of the Public Health Act 2005, and also includes land and vessels.

Principal place of residence means:

  1. for a person who permanently resides in Queensland, the residence where the person ordinarily resides; or

  2. for a person who temporarily resides in Queensland, the residence where the person ordinarily resides when the person in present in Queensland.

Private transport means:

  1. a private vehicle operated by the person or a household member or a friend or family member; or

    Example: a person may drive themselves in their own car or be transported in a car driven by one of their household members or friends.

  2. if travel by (a) is not available, a taxi with a protective shield between driver and passenger or a taxi van that allows for physical distancing between the driver and passengers; or

  3. if travel by (a) and (b) is not available, a taxi or ride share sitting in the back seat on the passenger side.

Public health controls are measures to reduce public health risks. These measures may include environmental cleaning, hygiene measures, regular washing of hands, availability of hand sanitiser and avoiding handshaking.

Public health officer includes an emergency officer (general), a contact tracing officer or an authorised person under section 377 of the Public Health Act 2005.

Public transport infrastructure has the same meaning as in the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994.

Residence means premises used, or intended to be used, as a dwelling or mainly as a dwelling, and includes the land on which the residence is situated, and includes:

  1. a single detached dwelling;

  2. each of one or more attached dwellings that are separated by a common wall;

    Examples for paragraph (b) — villa unit, townhouse, terrace house, row house, unit in an apartment block.

  3. a manufactured home as defined in section 10 of the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003;

  4. a caravan as defined in section 7 of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008;

  5. any other building or structure situated on the same land as the premises or dwelling.

    Examples for paragraph (e) – shed, pool house, carport, granny flat.

Residence does not include a residential aged care facility, corrective services facility or detention centre.

Residential aged care facility means a facility at which accommodation, and personal care or nursing care or both, are provided to a person in respect of whom a residential care subsidy or a flexible care subsidy is payable under the Aged Care Act 1997 of the Commonwealth.

Resident has the meaning given in section 14 of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008.

Restricted business, activity or undertaking is defined in paragraph 19.

Retail food service means a retail business which provides food and/or drink, whether pre-prepared or prepared on site. This includes, but is not limited to cafes, restaurants and fast-food outlets.

Shared disability accommodation service means a service, including the forensic disability service under the Forensic Disability Act 2011, where:

  1. four or more people with disability reside with people who are not members of their family; and

  2. the residents share enclosed common living areas within the facility whether inside or outside, and

  3. the residents are provided with disability supports within the facility.

Sports Stadiums means a sports stadium located in the State of Queensland (for example: North Queensland Stadium (Queensland Country Bank Stadium), The Gabba, Suncorp Stadium, Metricon Stadium, Queensland Tennis Centre, Moreton Daily Stadium, Sunshine Coast Stadium).

Stand-alone care service has the same meaning as ‘stand-alone service’ under the Education and Care Services Act 2013.

Symptoms consistent with COVID-19 means fever or history of fever, symptoms of acute respiratory infection (cough, shortness of breath, sore throat), loss of smell, loss of taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or fatigue.

Tenant has the meaning given in section 13 of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008.

Temporary accommodation means a private room or premises a person is staying in temporarily, but does not include communal areas of an accommodation facility that other persons separate to the person’s booking may access.

Example – a person does not need to wear a face mask in a hotel room or holiday apartment, but would need to wear a face mask in indoor communal areas of the facility unless excluded by this Direction.

Ticketed and allocated seating means fixed seating where a patron is:

  1. given a record of their assigned seat number by way of a ticket; and

  2. remains in their assigned seat to the extent possible while they are present at the venue or event.

Truck driver rest facility means businesses operating a truck driver lounge, truck driver room, or similar facility at a road side service centre or service station, which normally provide heavy vehicle drivers access to amenities such as food, showers, restrooms and facilities to undertake fatigue management breaks.

Vessel means a commercial vessel, research vessel or government vessel that is in Australian waters and is 50 metres or more in length. It does not apply to cruise vessels, private vessels, super yachts or recreational vessels.

Workplace means a place where a person is undertaking work on a paid or voluntary basis but does not include a commercial passenger vehicle or a retail food service to the extent that staff interact with patrons.

Example – kitchen staff at a café who do not interact with patrons do not need to wear a face mask, however wait staff must wear a face mask.

SCHEDULE 2 – IMPACTED AREAS (SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND)

Local Government Areas

Ipswich City Council

Lockyer Valley Regional Council

Noosa Shire Council

Redland City Council

Scenic Rim Regional Council

Somerset Regional Council

Sunshine Coast Regional Council

SCHEDULE 3 – HIGH-RISK IMPACTED AREAS

Local Government Areas

Brisbane City Council

Gold Coast City Council

Logan City Council

Moreton Bay Regional Council

Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council

Townsville City Council

SCHEDULE 4 – RESTRICTED BUSINESSES, ACTIVITIES AND UNDERTAKINGS (HIGH-RISK IMPACTED AREAS)

Column 1Column 2

Restricted business, activity, undertaking or place

Other Restrictions and Allowances

Schedule 4A – (hospitality businesses)

Food and drink

Retail food services (including cafes, restaurants, fast-food outlets)

Contact information is required to be collected for takeaway service.

Food courts

Contact information is required to be collected for takeaway service.

Entertainment venues

Pubs, licensed clubs, RSL clubs, function centres, bars, wineries, distilleries and microbreweries, and licensed premises in hotels

Contact information is required to be collected for takeaway service.

High risk businesses, activities and undertakings

Nightclubs 

Schedule 4B – other restricted businesses

Retail

Auction houses

 

Real estate auctions and open house inspections

 

Beauty and personal care services

  • Hairdressing

  • Beauty therapy (for example, facials, makeup, waxing and laser treatments)

  • Nail services (including manicures, pedicures)

  • Tanning

  • Cosmetic injections

  • Personal appearance services where skin penetration is used (example - tattooing, body piercing, skin implants, hair implants, microneedling)

  • Massage (therapeutic)

  • Day spas and wellness centres (excluding water-based spa services such as saunas and bathhouses)

  • Non-therapeutic massage

  • Water-based spa services such as saunas, bathhouses and floatation services

 

Entertainment venues

Casinos, gaming or gambling venues including wagering outlets that are open to, and accessible by, members of the public

 

Major Sports Stadiums

 

Concert venues, theatres, auditoriums and cinemas

Note: see paragraph 31, performers are permitted to dance.

Convention centres

Show grounds

 

Theme parks, outdoor amusement parks, tourism experiences and arcades

Live aboard and passenger vessels where passengers are accommodated overnight may operate in accordance with occupant density up to a maximum of 99 passengers.

Occupant density does not apply to tourism vehicles and vessels for up to 50 patrons.

Indoor play centres

 

Events

Indoor events

(Example – cultural festivals, expos, conferences)

An event held at a particular venue listed in Schedule 4A or 4B must also comply with a Site Specific Plan for the venue if one is in effect.

To the extent of any inconsistency with the Site Specific Plan the COVID Safe Event Checklist – Impacted Areas prevails.

Must operate in accordance with occupant density for indoor spaces.

Outdoor events

(Example – marathons, cultural festivals, fetes, expos)

An event held at a particular venue listed in Schedule 4A or 4B must also comply with a Site Specific Plan for the venue if one is in effect.

To the extent of any inconsistency with the Site Specific Plan the COVID Safe Event Checklist – Impacted Areas prevails.

Must operate in compliance with an COVID Safe Event Checklist - Impacted Areas.

Must operate in accordance with occupant density for outdoor spaces.

Leisure and recreation

Gyms, health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre, spin facilities dance studios, boot camps and personal training

Note: see paragraph 31, dancing is allowed in dance studios and dance classes.

Indoor sports

  • Indoor sporting centres and venues

  • Indoor social sporting-based activities

  • community sports clubs

Sport in indoor spaces must comply with occupant density off the field of play.

Occupant density does not apply on the field of play.

Example – spectators watching an indoor basketball game must observe physical distancing to the extent possible. Participants, coaches, officials and other support functions (trainers, medical staff etc) are not required to observe the person per square metre occupant density rule on the field.

Outdoor social sporting-based activities, outdoor community sports

Spectators must observe physical distancing off the field of play.

Occupant density does not apply on the field of play.

Indoor swimming pools

  • training/ rehabilitation purposes

  • use of indoor public pools for swimming lessons or recreational purposes

Must observe physical distancing out of the pool. Occupant density does not apply in the pool.

Example – spectators and coaches at a water polo game must observe physical distancing to the extent possible. Players are not required to observe the person per square metre occupant density rule in the pool.

Note – indoor occupant density requirements apply to shared change rooms.

Applies to indoor swimming pools and associated indoor facilities only.

The following indoor swimming pools are permitted to operate:

  1. a pool in an apartment complex or body corporate; and

  2. which is only used by permanent residents of the apartment complex or body corporate; and

  3. no visitors are permitted to use the pool.

Residential facilities

Hostels, bed and breakfasts, backpackers, boarding houses

Occupant density applies in indoor spaces, excluding sleeping areas

Example – shared dining or kitchen facilities indoors

Note – facilities that accommodate seasonal workers must comply with the Seasonal Workers Health Management and International Quarantine Plans Direction (No. 2) or its successor

Short term rentals and short term accommodation (for example, serviced apartments including holiday rentals, holiday accommodation or hosting accommodation provided through online booking platforms)

Occupant density applies in indoor spaces, excluding sleeping areas

Example – shared dining or kitchen facilities indoors

Note – facilities may also need to comply with the Seasonal Workers Health Management and International Quarantine Plans Direction (No. 2) or its successor

Occupant density does not apply to primary and secondary school-aged children from the same group participating in camps operated by a school, community group or business (e.g. outdoor education provider).

Example - school-aged children participating in a scout camp may exceed the occupant density in dining, bathroom and sleeping spaces, however should maintain physical distancing where possible.

Outdoor recreation

Caravan and camping parks

Occupant density does not apply.

Zoos, aquariums and wildlife centres

 

Non-residential institutions

Galleries, museums, national and state institutions and historic sites

An event held at these venues will need to comply with the relevant indoor or outdoor event requirements.

State and local government libraries

An event held at these venues will need to comply with the relevant indoor or outdoor event requirements.

Community facilities (such as community centres and halls, recreation centres, youth centres, community clubs, RSLs, PCYCs) excluding any dining, gaming or hospitality business in the facility

An event held at these venues will need to comply with the relevant indoor or outdoor event requirements.

A dining, gaming or hospitality business in the facility must comply with the requirements for those businesses.

Wedding ceremonies

Wedding ceremonies are limited to a maximum of 100 people irrespective of occupant density.

Note: despite dancing restrictions, dancing at a wedding reception is permitted to a maximum of 20 people in the bridal party.

Note – the number of people permitted to attend a wedding reception (as distinguished from a wedding ceremony) is based on the requirements for the business, activity, undertaking, premises or place where the reception is held.

Example – if a wedding reception is hosted by a restaurant, the requirements in paragraph 24, including occupant density and the COVID Safe Checklist, would determine how many guests could attend.

FuneralsFunerals are limited to a maximum of 100 people irrespective of occupant density.

Other religious and civil ceremonies, places of worship

 

Universities and other higher education institutions such as TAFEs and RTOs

 

Professional and elite sport

Professional sporting codes, elite sport, elite athletes

The occupant density requirements do not apply on the field of play. Physical distancing applies off the field of play to the extent possible.

High risk businesses, activities and undertakings

Adult entertainment venues (strip clubs), brothels, sex on premises venues and sole operator sex workers

No dancing, with the exception of performers.

Understanding this Direction

Information to help you understand what the closure of the Queensland border means to travellers and residents.

Find out more

Last updated: 8 October 2021