Queensland border reopens to other Australian states

Queensland's strict Covid restrictions had kept people separated for over five months

Australians are celebrating seeing loved ones again in Queensland, after the state lifted a five-month border closure with its biggest neighbours.

At airports and border towns on Monday, there were hugs and tears as families reunited after long separations.

Queensland had drawn anger for closing its border to Australia's most populous states, which prevented people from even visiting sick relatives.

But officials credit Queensland's low Covid numbers to the hardline policy.

The state of five million people has recorded around 2,000 infections during the pandemic, compared to 136,000 cases in Victoria and 86,000 in New South Wales (NSW).

Vaccinated people from interstate are now able to enter Queensland without needing to quarantine, provided they have a negative Covid test result.

Overseas travellers arriving in Queensland must still quarantine for 14 days, unlike in some other parts of Australia.

TV reports showed cars queuing for kilometres near the border before dawn on Monday. As the first vehicles crossed, drivers beeped their horns and bystanders cheered.

Airlines said about 10,000 people were due to fly in and out of the state on Monday, and 700 flights were booked for the week.

Queensland began isolating its population in June when Delta outbreaks hit Australia's two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne.

Although those cities exited months-long lockdowns in October, Queensland opted to stay closed until 80% of its adult population became vaccinated.

Western Australia remains the only state still to ban interstate travel. It is expected to reopen early next year.

After a slow start, Australia has become one of the most vaccinated nations with over 88% of over-16s having received two doses.

• The battle to open up 'Fortress Australia'

• The lives upended by Australia's sealed border

Australians overseas have been allowed to return home without needing to quarantine since November. Foreigners are still banned from entry.

But the country will reopen to migrant workers, foreign students and some others later this week, after a nearly two-year ban.

Australia has recorded 2,072 deaths and 227,000 cases - far lower than other OECD nations.

Huge moment for mostly Covid-free state

Simon Atkinson, BBC News, Brisbane

It's not just reunited families and friends whose grins are as sunny as the Queensland skies today.

The border opening just as school summer holiday season begins is massive for the state's $A28bn (£15bn; $20bn) tourism industry, which is already facing its second Christmas without international travellers.

The arrival of interstate visitors is a huge relief in places like the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast as they approach the busiest time of year.

But health officials have been warning for weeks that there'll now inevitably be a lot more coronavirus cases.

And while most Queenslanders I've spoken to welcome the border opening, it'll be interesting to see how the mood changes if those holiday hotspots also become coronavirus hotspots, in a state where just one new Covid patient can still be headline news.