The Queensland Government is implementing strict new coronavirus rules for Queenslanders returning home from interstate.

From tomorrow night, anyone returning home will need a special permit to cross back into Queensland.

Anyone who has visited a virus hotspot such as Sydney will need to quarantine for 14 days upon returning home.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her message to Queensland residents was “now is not the time to go into New South Wales”, and warned border controls could get even tougher.

“We are not ruling out further measures into the future, so you do not want to get caught across the border,” she said.

“Everyone please stay in your state.”

Queensland Police said as of midnight Wednesday, officers had issued 239 fines for people breaching public health directions.

They had also refused entry to 947 vehicles at state borders, and directed 2638 people re-entering Queensland into quarantine.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said too many people were still “recklessly and blatantly disregarding” coronavirus rules.

She said most people had been compliant but it was proving extraordinarily difficult to control the number of people using Gold Coast beaches.

“Last weekend we had so many people descend onto the Gold Coast that those social distancing measures were so extraordinarily difficult to enforce, people were still sunbaking, congregating, and this is what we want to avoid,” she said.

“What we’re saying is please can you just stay home for these next few weeks. You can still get out and do your exercise, but do it locally.

“Our strategy has always been communication, compassion and then ultimately compliance, and I think the messaging is getting across. People are phoning in and genuinely complaining about people because they’re concerned when people are breaching those rules.”

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