Queensland Government loosens Coronavirus restrictions to allow 10,000 fans in sporting venues

The Queensland Government has announced a further easing of COVID-19 restrictions to allow up to 10,000 spectators to attend stadiums from next Saturday - 27th June.

Announced today by Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the increase in crowd capacity follows trials that have seen 2,000 fans allowed at Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba under COVIDSafe plans.

Speaking on the pitch at Suncorp Stadium, Minister Miles announced “beginning next weekend, our stadiums will be allowed to have up to 25% of their usual crowd capacity, up to that cap of 10,000 that was set by the Prime Minister and National Cabinet.”

Minister Miles added that the increase in crowd numbers was in line with the professional codes’ COVIDSafe plans, adding “the codes have shown they are taking these measures seriously (while) our stadiums are also taking their responsibilities seriously making it safe for more spectators enjoy their favourite games.

“The first two games welcoming smaller numbers of spectators (showed) fans respecting the new social distancing arrangements and guidance from stadium officials and security.”

Measures protecting the health of spectators include: extra cleaning and sanitisation of high traffic areas such as hand-rails; seating plans of segmented zones and dedicated facilities and exits to reduce potential for virus spread.

The changes will also apply outside of South East Queensland with Townsville to welcome fans for the North Queensland Cowboys home game at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on 27th June.

Queensland Sports Minister Mick de Brenni added that the development is good news for the return to play of all Queensland sport, noting “now that we’ve seen crowds return safely at a professional level, we’re working with sporting codes to examine how we can take steps to see more flexibility at club level.

“Sport industry leaders are progressing next steps after meeting with the Chief Health Office last week, to discuss greater flexibility in community sport for Stage 3, while still keeping players, staff and spectators safe.”

While Queensland is opening up its venues, it is clamping down on visitors from Victoria, in the wake of a rise in Coronavirus cases there.

With Victoria recording a recent rise in cases, Minister Miles advised that with 36 local government areas in the state identified as Coronavirus "hotspots … anyone who travels there and returns to Queensland … will be required to quarantine for 14 days".

He concluded “we cannot afford to be importing cases from these hotspots, because if we do we will be forced to go backwards, as Victoria has had to, with the easing of their restrictions".

Image: Clean Zone signage at Suncorp Stadium (Supplied: NRL Photos).