Superseded - Self-quarantine for persons arriving in Queensland from overseas Direction

This direction has been superseded by the Requirements for International Arrivals Direction

Summary

This direction applies to people arriving in Queensland from overseas.

Anyone arriving in Queensland from overseas must immediately travel to the hotel or accommodation you have been directed to. You must remain there for 14 days unless you are seeking medical care or in an emergency.

Air and maritime crew must also self-quarantine in their accommodation until their next trip or for at least 14 days.

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 19 May 2020 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 directions 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.

Citation

  1. This Public Health Direction may be referred to as the Self-quarantine for persons arriving in Queensland from overseas Direction.

PART 1 — Self-quarantine for persons returning from overseas

  1. The purpose of this Part is to require persons who arrive in Queensland from overseas to self-quarantine in nominated premises for 14 days in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
  2. This direction applies from 11.59pm on Saturday 28 March 2020 until the end of the declared public health emergency, unless it is revoked or replaced.
  3. A person who arrives in Queensland from overseas, whether Queensland is the person’s final destination or not, and after completing immigration, customs and any other requirements:
    1. must travel directly, in the manner instructed by a relevant authority, from their port of disembarkation to a nominated premises and reside in the nominated premises for 14 days;
    2. must not leave the nominated premises for the 14-day period, except:
      1. for the purposes of obtaining essential medical care or medical supplies; or
      2. in the event of an emergency situation; or
      3. as otherwise required or permitted under a direction given to the person by a relevant authority; and
    3. must not permit any other person to enter the nominated premises unless that other person:
      1. resides in the nominated premises for the purpose of complying with this direction; or
      2. enters the nominated premises to provide emergency or medical care to a person residing in the nominated premises; or
      3. as otherwise required or permitted under a direction given to the person by a relevant authority; and
  1. Air and maritime crew who arrive in Queensland from overseas must self-quarantine in their accommodation until:
    1. their next work voyage; or
    2. 14-days have passed from their date of arrival in Queensland, whichever is shorter.
  2. The Chief Health Officer may grant a person an exemption from all or part of these directions on the basis of exceptional circumstances.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Public Health Direction:

  1. Nominated premises means a hotel, other place of accommodation, or other place nominated by the Chief Health Officer or a relevant authority.
  2. Relevant authority means an emergency officer appointed under the Public Health Act 2005.

PART 2 — 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.

Dr Jeannette Young
Chief Health Officer
28 March 2020

Published on the Queensland Health website at 28 March 2020, 08:49pm

Last updated: 7 April 2020