ACT
Face masks
People over the age of 12 must wear a face mask in all indoor non-residential settings, including:
- indoor retail settings
- public transport
- hospitality venues (except when seated, or eating or drinking)
- indoor workplaces
- visitors and staff in residential aged care facilities
For children under 12, there is no mandatory requirement to wear a face mask and this remains at the discretion of parents and carers.
QR check-in
Venues and events must continue to use the Check in CBR app, including the building and construction sector.
Paper records are not permitted to be used to collect patron details. Businesses are required to use the Business Profile function of the Check In CBR app going forward.
If you are 16 years or older, you must use Check In CBR when on public transport and in venues, cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, supermarkets, Uber, rideshares, hire cars, at events and already restricted businesses.
Density limits
There is no limit on the number of visitors to a home or on the number of people permitted at informal outdoor gatherings.
Density limits of one person per two square metres will apply for all indoor organised events (excluding staff).
If there are more than 25 people across an indoor venue, density limit also applies to:
- retail premises, hospitality venues and personal care services
- entertainment and leisure venues, community and cultural facilities
- casinos, clubs, gambling venues and betting agencies
- places of worship, funerals and weddings
- gyms, health clubs, fitness centres or wellness centres, personal training, bootcamps, dance classes, swimming pools and organised sporting activities
Travel
There are currently no restrictions on interstate travel to the ACT, except for people who are close contacts.
Travellers who have been declared as a close contact in another jurisdiction must seek an exemption from ACT Health prior to entering the ACT.
Fully vaccinated international travellers must:
- Complete an online declaration form within 24 hours of arrival into the ACT.
- Undergo a COVID-19 PCR test within 24 hours of arrival in Australia and quarantine until a negative test result is received.
- Undergo a further COVID-19 PCR test on day 6 after arrival in Australia.
New South Wales
Face masks
People over the age of 12 must wear a face mask in an indoor area of premises other than a place of residence, in an indoor area on common property for residential premises, at a public transport waiting area and in a vehicle or vessel being used to provide a public transport service.
Masks must also be worn while working at a hospitality venue and dealing directly with members of the public and on a domestic commercial aircraft.
A person can remove their face mask if they are eating or drinking and communicating with another person who is deaf or hard of hearing, among a number of other reasons.
Quarantine requirements
Healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 in New South Wales will be able to leave isolation and return to work after seven days instead of 14 under new guidelines.
Workers will need to have a negative PCR test on day six and follow a risk assessment plan before returning to work.
Fully vaccinated international passengers arriving in NSW must get a COVID-19 rapid antigen test within 24 hours of arriving in NSW (and can stop self-isolating once they receive a negative result from this test) and on or after day six after arriving in the state.
QR check-in
- retail premises
- food and drink premises
- pubs, small bars and registered clubs
- hairdressers, spas, nail, beauty, waxing, and tanning salons, tattoo parlours and massage parlours
- gyms (except dance, yoga, pilates, gymnastics, and martial arts studios)
- hospitals (except patients of hospitals or hospitals with an electronic entry recording system that records sufficient information that can be used for contact tracing)
- residential care facilities or hostels (except in relation to the residents)
- places of public worship, like churches, mosques, temples, meeting houses and synagogues
- funeral, memorials and gatherings afterwards
- nightclubs and casinos
- strip clubs, sex on premises venues, sex services premises
- indoor music festivals with more than 1000 people
Density limits
Hospitality venues, including pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes have moved to one person per two sqm rule indoor, with no density limit for outdoor settings.
Density limits came into effect on 27 December and will run until 27 January.
Vaccination requirements
Most premises in NSW are now open to everyone, regardless of their vaccination status.
You are not required to be fully vaccinated to have people visit your home or visit people at their home.
However, you still need to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated if you attend an indoor music festival with more than 1000 people or if you work in certain industries.
Travel
There are no restrictions on travelling between Greater Sydney and regional and rural NSW for a holiday or recreational visits within NSW.
Entry to NSW is restricted when a NSW Health concerns notice identifies affected areas, areas of concern and places of high concern.
There is currently no requirement to complete an entry declaration form when travelling to NSW, though there are a number of requirements for residents and non-residents to adhere to.
When travelling out of NSW, check the state government website for your destination before you travel as you may need an entry permit or to get tested.
If you are travelling interstate, and the state or territory you plan to visit has testing entry requirements, get tested near your home before you leave.
Results typically take 24-48 hours. Border region clinics may experience increased demand across the holiday period.
New rules are in place for people travelling to NSW from outside Australia and transiting through NSW from an international country.
Northern Territory
Lockdown
A lockout remains in place for Yuendumu and Yuelamu, while Amoonguna entered a five-day lockdown from 12pm on Thursday 13 January.
Fully vaccinated people are able to live normally within the lockout area. Mandatory mask use remains in place.
Unvaccinated people 16 years and over, including those people who have received only their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, must stay at home during a lockout period and are only permitted to leave for four reasons.
Vaccination requirements
You will now need to show proof of vaccination when visiting certain venues, including:
- bars, pubs and nightclubs licensed to sell and consume liquor on-premises
- clubs licensed to sell and consume liquor on-premises
- casinos and licensed gaming venues
- restaurants with a liquor licence
- cinema, theatre, concert, music or dance hall
Face masks
A mask mandate is currently in place and this includes pubs, clubs, restaurants, shopping centres, hairdressers, workplaces, public transport, taxi cabs, rideshare and indoor boat cruises. Masks are not required to be worn in private residences or while exercising.
Tt's mandatory for face masks to be worn at all major NT airports and while onboard an aircraft. Masks must be worn when inside the airport and when on the airfield.
QR check-in
The Territory Check-In App is mandatory for use in all NT businesses, shopping centres, venues and events. Pen and paper will still be permitted. You will be required to check in everywhere you go, no matter how long you spend at that location.
Travel
Fully vaccinated visitors are welcome to enter the Northern Territory without having to quarantine.
A pre-arrival COVID-19 PCR test is not required for interstate travellers entering the Northern Territory. International travellers must follow the pre-arrival advice on the Smartraveller website.
Unvaccinated returning Territorians and those people who have received authority to enter the Northern Territory will be required to undertake 14 days mandatory supervised quarantine at their own cost.
Unvaccinated visitors are not permitted to enter the NT.
When in the Northern Territory you can travel to key tourist destinations and national parks outside of excluded communities including Litchfield National Park, Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk National Park, Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles, West MacDonnell National Park, Uluru-Kata Juta National Park.
Queensland
Face masks
Face masks must be worn indoors everywhere in Queensland, except in your own home or accommodation, and where it is unsafe, such as while doing strenuous exercise. This includes:
- all indoor workplaces
- public transport and rideshare
- supermarkets and retail shops
- hospitality venues including pubs, clubs and cafes
- cinemas and theatres
- indoor stadium, sports arena or sports centre
- gyms and sport activities
- vulnerable settings like hospitals and aged care
- schools, childcare and other education facilities
- airports and on planes
You do not need to wear a mask outdoors if you can remain 1.5 metres away from others that are not members of your household.
Children under 12 years of age and people affected by a medical condition or disability do not have to wear a face mask.
QR check-in
A business operator must collect contact information, proof of vaccination or evidence of medical contraindication from all staff, guests and patrons when entering an establishment by using the Check In Qld app.
If a business operator cannot use the Check In Qld app, they must use alternative measures to record the contact information details.
Vaccination requirements and density limits
There are no capacity restrictions on businesses that are only permitted to allow fully vaccinated people to attend, including:
- hospitality venues such as pubs, clubs, taverns, bars, restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets
- indoor entertainment venues such as nightclubs, live music venues, karaoke bars, concerts, theatres or cinemas, casinos
- outdoor entertainment activities such as sporting stadiums or theme parks
- festivals – either indoor or outdoor – such as musical festivals, folk festivals or arts festivals
- activities – either indoor or outdoor – such as convention and entertainment centres and showgrounds
- Queensland government-owned galleries, museums or libraries
Venues used for private hire have no capacity limit if people attending are fully vaccinated.
However, if there is a person attending who is not fully vaccinated, COVID-19 density restrictions apply. This means a maximum of 20 people or one per four square meters, whichever is less.
The Queensland government has enforced a number of restrictions for unvaccinated people, including that they are not permitted to visit vulnerable settings, including hospitals, residential aged care, disability accommodation services, and prisons.
Travel
From 15 January 2022, domestic border restrictions for people entering Queensland from a hotspot will no longer be in place, but restrictions will remain in place for international travel.
Currently, hotspot travellers in Queensland are no longer required to get a COVID-19 PCR test on day 5 following their arrival into Queensland.
Any hotspot traveller entering Queensland will be able to meet entry testing requirements by either a negative Rapid Antigen Test OR a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to entering Queensland.
You must apply for and receive a Queensland entry pass prior to your entry into Queensland. Find out what else you need if you are entering Queensland:
- from a hotspot (domestic arrival)
- from the border zone (Border Zone pass)
- from the green zone (no restrictions)
- from overseas
- having been to an interstate exposure venue.
If you have not been in a COVID-19 hotspot or interstate exposure venue or are entering directly from a safe travel zone country, you should be able to enter Queensland without restrictions.
South Australia
Face masks
Masks are currently mandatory in health care services, passenger transport services, high-risk settings, airports and planes, personal care, indoor public places and for people in quarantine.
QR check-in
General retail premises, and businesses that conduct a defined public activity, an activity with more than 100 people attending, or passenger transport services must use the COVID SAfe Check-In or other approved contact tracing system.
All people entering premises, businesses, or venues must use the COVID SAfe Check-In to scan the QR code.
Density limits
South Australia has imposed density requirements for a number of settings, including for indoor and outdoor seated hospitality activities and for fitness activities. Information is available here.
Travel
Travellers entering South Australia are no longer required to complete an EntryCheck SA application.
Residents of South Australia wanting to travel to other states and territories are encouraged to check the rules of the place they are travelling to before they leave.
Tasmania
Face masks
People aged 12 years and older must wear masks in all indoor non-residential areas, including indoor areas of commercial or recreational boats, including cruise ships and other similar vessels operating in Tasmania, public transport, taxis and rideshare services.
Masks also must be worn on Tasmanian airports, ports, on board aircraft and Spirit of Tasmania and at large outdoor events with more than 1000 patrons.
QR check-in
Tasmanians and visitors are required to use the Check in TAS app when they visit a range of businesses, organisations and events.
Travel
Tasmania’s border entry conditions depend on your COVID-19 vaccination status and whether you have been in an area declared high or extreme risk.
All travellers must register through the Tas e-Travel system and they will be required to scan their QR code on arrival.
If you are fully vaccinated and have been in a high-risk area in the 14 days before you intend to arrive in Tasmania you must return a negative result from a COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken in the 24 hours prior to departure, or a PCR test 72 hours prior to departure, to Tasmania.
Victoria
Face masks
Wearing a mask is required for everyone aged eight and above in all indoor settings in Victoria (unless an exception applies, such as when in a home, when consuming food or drink, or when receiving beauty services).
- on public transport, in taxis/rideshare services, in tourism vehicles and on commercial flights.
- at an airport.
- while attending an event that has 30,000 or more patrons present, unless you are seated outdoors at the event.
- while visiting a hospital or care facility.
- after being tested for COVID-19 and awaiting results, other than as part of surveillance testing.
- if the person has COVID-19 or is a contact, and is leaving the premises in line with quarantine, isolation or testing requirements.
- international passenger arrivals and international aircrew services workers who are in direct transit to their place of self-quarantine in Victoria and who leave their vehicle, or who are in self-quarantine and leave to undertake permitted essential services.
QR check-in
All workplaces must use the free Service Victoria app for record-keeping, ensuring all workers and visitors check-in.
If you enter a business or workplace, you must check-in upon entry using the Service Victoria app - regardless of the duration of your visit.
Vaccination requirements
As part of orders handed down in mid-December 2021, people under 18 will no longer be required to show proof of their vaccination status at all venues, such as hospitality.
Also, mandatory vaccination requirements were removed for all customers in retail, except hair and beauty services, and removed in real estate, places of worship, weddings and funerals.
Under the orders, restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs are still only open to fully vaccinated patrons and staff.
Travel
There are no restrictions on travelling within Victoria.
Domestic visitors to Victoria no longer need to get a travel permit to enter the state, regardless of their vaccination status, unless they have been overseas in the past 14 days.
If you are entering Victoria from overseas, see the information for returned overseas travellers page to see your requirements.
Western Australia
Face masks
Mask wearing is required in hospitals, aged care and disability care and on public transport, in taxis, and rideshare vehicles in the Perth and Peel regions.
Wearing a face mask is mandatory in WA while at an airport, travelling on aircraft, or transporting a person subject to a quarantine direction.
QR check-in
Density limits
There are no capacity limits to gatherings or events. However, it's advised to stay at least 1.5 metres from people who are not from your household.
COVID Safety Plans are still required for major events and venues. Venues must also continue to maintain contact registers and use the SafeWA app
Travel
From 5 February, WA will embark on its Safe Transition and ease interstate and international borders. Information about travelling into WA will be available soon.
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