Restrictions have been lifted for Queenslanders without a COVID-19 vaccine, opening them back up to a range of services that had controlled access during the pandemic.
At the beginning of the month Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced venues that previously required people to show proof of vaccine, no longer need to enforce the regulations. She said most venues “will be open to everyone, regardless of vaccination status”.
Those who aren’t vaccinated will again be allowed to enter pubs, clubs, cafes, and restaurants as well as theme parks, casinos, and cinemas. Other venues include weddings, showgrounds, galleries, libraries, museums, and stadiums.
Although access to venues has been largely opened, requirements are still in place for certain locations. An up-to-date vaccination status is needed for hospitals, aged and disability care plus prisons, schools, and childcare centres.
Schools have been exempted from the mandate with Queensland Health detailing that Omicron is spreading through schools in the state. In other QLD related COVID-19 news, Pfizer has offered up $100 million for a Brisbane company that’s developed an app which can detect and diagnose the virus.
ResApp listens to the sound of a person’s cough five times and can determine whether or not that person is suffering from COVID-19. Accuracy of the app is dependent on other virus-related symptoms but CEO and Managing Director Tony Keating described it as a “game changer” while also giving credit to UQ researcher Professor Udantha Abeyratne who started the investigation.
“He came up with the idea that cough sounds contain information about what’s going on inside your lungs,” he said.
The ABC reported that 75 per cent of shareholders will need to vote in favour of the proposition for a successful deal.
Attendance at venues will no longer be capped and masks will only need to be worn whilst on public transport and planes. The Queensland government states about 91.1 per cent of the QLD population have been vaccinated while there are about 9000 active cases in the community.
