After effectively closing off Queensland to the ACT, due to its proximity to NSW and the risk of people from hotspots using Canberra airport as a loophole, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young will lift the restrictions from 1am next Friday.

Young cautioned, however, that anyone in the ACT wishing to travel to Queensland would need to fly as driving would take them through the hotspot of NSW. Anyone coming from NSW or Victoria, via Canberra airport, would need to wait in the ACT for 14 days before travelling to Queensland. All travellers would also be required to show ID and sign declarations.

The Palaszczuk government has fiercely defended its border policies amid attacks from conservative politicians and business groups.

The relaxation gives hope of a tourism boost for the school holidays, and could potentially provide a pathway for Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese to campaign in Queensland ahead of the October 31 state election.

National Cabinet is meeting today to discuss the fate of Australians stranded overseas and Morrison will continue to argue for more consistent, and open, border policies within Australia.

Victoria recorded 45 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, a deterioration since yesterday’s positive improvement of 28, with another five deaths. NSW recorded six new cases, five of them returning travellers in quarantine.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said there was still a need for caution: the second wave in Europe has surpassed the first and has yet to peak, while in Australia, “Victoria saw more deaths in one 24-hour period than Queensland has had all year”.

While Queensland recorded no new cases of COVID-19 overnight, sewage testing has detected viral traces in Hervey Bay and led to a call for locals to get tested if they have symptoms. A similar find in Airlie Beach, and more testing, did not uncover any new cases.

Young said the number of cases from clusters in Logan, the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, corrective services training facility and Ipswich Hospital remained at 54.

Queensland had gone eight days without having anyone infectious in the community but Young said “it’s a little bit too early to totally relax”.

After Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was criticised for attending public events while complaining she had lost her voice, and then having a COVID-19 test that came back negative, Young was asked whether the Premier should have stayed at home.

Young said that although experts continued to list new symptoms, “loss of voice is not a symptom of coronavirus”. Palaszczuk has not spoken publicly since her COVID-19 test came to light, and has instead been resting her voice.

“She was ultra-cautious and that is what I ask of every Queenslander; she went and got herself tested,” Young said.

Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington has also been criticised for travelling on a crowded flight without wearing a mask.