Queensland will shut its western border with Northern Territory

Queensland CLOSES one of its borders to prevent the spread of coronavirus

  • Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the drastic measure 
  • She also said plans were in place to seal off remote communities in QLD  
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

The border between the Northern Territory and Queensland will be restricted to reduce the movement of people and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the drastic measure in a press conference this afternoon.

‘We will be putting up a border restriction across the west of the state,’ she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said children in boarding schools will be returned to their families in remote communities. 

She also said plans were in place to seal off remote communities in western Queensland to protect them. 

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the drastic measure in a press conference this afternoon. Pictured: People in a remote town in Alice Springs

Essential personnel such as doctors and food delivery drivers will still be able to move between the states and get to the remote communities.

The measure is designed to protect Indigenous Australians who may be more vulnerable to the virus.

Ms Palaszczuk did not say when the restrictions will begin. 

‘Look, my message is everyone needs to take this absolutely seriously,’ she said.

‘You can’t see the virus. It’s a bit like when you can’t see a cyclone coming until it arrives. And I think people only have to see the images that are happening around the world to know that no one is immune to this.

‘It’s happening in nearly every other country. So we are preparing, but we need to take some measures now that will help flatten that curve and will help protect lives.

‘So I’m asking Queenslanders to do something they’ve never done before.’ 

A house is pictured on an outstation near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory

A house is pictured on an outstation near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory

Ms Palaszczuk also told Queenslanders not to have a night out. 

‘Now, I know many of you would be thinking: It’s a Friday afternoon. it’s beautiful weather. I’m going to have a big night out,’ she said.

‘Guess what? Now is not the time to do it. I’m sorry to the pubs out there right across the state.

‘I don’t want you to be having a big night out this weekend.

‘This is the time now we need everybody to go home, be with your family, sit on your back deck, have a glass of wine, spend time with your kids, talk to your friends.’

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk