Queensland’s border checkpoints will REMAIN until after Christmas causing headaches for motorists

Travellers hoping for a sunny Christmas in Queensland should brace themselves for traffic chaos with the state’s border checkpoints to remain in place.  

While there were hopes that the reopening of the state’s borders on December 17 would mean the removal of the hard border, officials have confirmed the checkpoints are due to stay in place until early next year. 

Deputy Premier Steven Miles confirmed to reporters at a press conference on Friday that the barricades will be removed once the state hits the 90 per cent double vaccination rate.

Mr Miles added that it was still unknown when Queensland could hit the target level as it’s difficult to predict.

‘It’s very hard to predict the 90 per cent threshold.’

‘In some jurisdictions, we’ve seen a tapering off at 80 per cent so you can’t just use that.’

Deputy Steven Miles (pictured) confirmed on Friday that the barricades will be removed once the state hits the 90 per cent double vaccination rate

Deputy chief health officer Lynne McKinlay mentioned that officials will share the date the state reaches the target when they are more certain.

Over Christmas, travellers will be checked by police at the border to ensure they are fully vaccinated and have tested negative to Covid 72 hours prior.

Gridlock is expected at the border. 

Motorists will still have to be checked by police at checkpoints when the border reopens on December 17 to ensure they are fully vaccinated

Over the holiday season last year, the Courier Mail reported there were delays of over two hours due to the border closures. 

Queensland recorded no new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19 on Friday from 8799 tests.

14,219 vaccinations were administered on Thursday as 76.55 per cent of Queenslanders have now had their first dose and 62.39 per cent are double dosed. 

The border checkpoints will cause a headache for motorists over the Christmas holiday season with traffic expected to grind to a standstill

Queensland recorded no new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19 on Friday and 14,219 vaccinations were administered in the last 24 hours

‘The faster we are vaccinated, the faster these deadlines will be achieved,’ Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said as she announced the state’s reopening plan

‘I’m asking Queenslanders to get vaccinated to keep our sense of lifestyle,’ Ms Palaszczuk said (Pictured: Residents relaxing on the beach at Burleigh Heads)