Queensland easing Restrictions: Phase 3 starting midday July 3rd

In Stage 3 all business can open. In a move that offers a huge surge of positivity for the hospitality industry, capacity caps are being removed, bar ordering is allowed, and gaming and casinos can reopen.

The initial 100-person limit for venues including bars, restaurants and cafes has been scrapped and replaced with the one-person per four square metre rule for large venues, and one-person per two square metres for smaller venues up to 200 square metres to a max of 50.

Pub patrons will also be able to buy drinks at the bar with the requirement for table service scrapped and food courts can reopen.

Casinos, gaming or gambling venues can operate in compliance with an approved COVID Safe Industry Plan. In Stage 3 these venues can serve food and drinks, provide takeaway food and home delivery, operate for gaming, including electronic gaming machines, but can not reopen dance floors or buffets yet. Nightclubs can also reopen, but nightclub dance floors also remain closed and guests will have to be seated.

Stage 3 also includes:

- Sport stadiums will be able to fill 50 per cent of their stadiums or seat 25,000 spectators (whichever is less)
- Concert venues, theatres and auditoriums can have up to 50 per cent capacity or one person per 4 square metres (whichever is greater)
- Museums, art galleries, libraries and historic sites can have one person per 4 square metres
- Non-therapeutic massage services and water-based spa services such as saunas and bathhouses will be able to operate
- Wedding ceremonies and funerals may have up to 100 people in attendance.

Do physical distancing rules still apply in Queensland?

Physical distancing rules still apply. So wherever possible people should remain 1.5 metres away from others. So it’s important to be mindful of arranging tables and traffic flows to ensure that wherever possible patrons and staff are each at least 1.5 metres apart.

For example, ensure that tables are at least 1.5 metres apart and that in the takeaway section of a restaurant, each waiting customer can sit or stand at last 1.5 metres away from everyone else. This may not always be possible in a venue less than 200 square metres which is why the venue is restricted to a maximum of 50 people.

The Queensland state government will also open the borders to other states from Friday, July 10, provided travellers complete a border declaration stating they have not been to local government areas in Victoria in the previous 14 days.

To read more, check out the Queensland Government website .