![]() "It'd be nice to get that in an email.The British Chambers of Commerce has called on the UK government to provide businesses with free or low-cost Covid testing kits to help them cope with a large number of the workforce catching the Covid-19. "I've not been made aware of those changes or that advice at all," he added. Mr McTavish said he had not been advised of that plan. "There may be less testing requirements for fully vaccinated people entering the border zone or entering Queensland from the border zone for non-essential reasons," the spokesperson said in a statement. However, a spokesperson for Queensland Health told the ABC on Friday that a border zone will be established for local residents to ensure they can access Queensland for essential purposes without having to take a test, whether they're vaccinated or not. "If people are having to be tested every 72 hours, it will impact on their capacity to go to work, do essential volunteering, provide care, access medical care and the like," Mr McTavish said. Right now, he said, the rules suggest people who regularly cross into Queensland will need to get a PCR test every 72 hours. "We'd like to know in advance of the plans that have been put in place, and we'd like to be able to provide some surety to all people in all border communities," he said. NSW Cross Border commissioner James McTavish said Queensland Health had not informed him of its plans, despite repeated requests for clarity. "The Commonwealth funds 100 per cent of Medicare-funded tests and 50 per cent of state-based tests. "The National Partnership on COVID-19 Response, which all governments have signed, includes a 50 per cent funding contribution from the Australian government towards COVID-19 testing," the spokesperson said. On Friday, a spokesperson for federal Health Minister Greg Hunt reinforced the message. The federal government has already refused Queensland's demands to alter Medicare, accusing the government of "walking away" from its responsibilities to pay for its share of the tests. PCR tests are free for people with COVID-19 symptoms, but otherwise they cost around $150 at a private pathology clinic. Under the state government's roadmap, everyone who crosses the border must have returned a negative PCR test 72 hours before arrival. That's expected to happen in early December. ![]() Queensland's borders are set to open once 80 per cent of eligible Queenslanders aged 16 years and over are fully vaccinated. ( Supplied: TLC Healthcare) PCR tests add up Rapid antigen tests are cheaper and faster than PCR tests - but they're roughly 30 per cent less accurate. Queensland's double-dose vaccination rate is 73.06 per cent, while 84.35 per cent of eligible people aged over 16 years have had their first dose. ![]() However, the state's vaccination rates were also lower than southern states. Queensland recorded zero new cases again on Monday. "The stage we're in, with four active cases, we want to identify every case, not miss 30 per cent so we'll continue to use PCR tests at this stage." "To put it very roughly, rapid antigen tests are about 70 per cent as effective as PCR," he said. Other states and territories are encouraging the use of cheaper and faster rapid antigen tests, but Queensland's Acting Chief Health Officer, Peter Aitken, said on Sunday that those tests were only beneficial with high cases numbers. The policy was likely to stay "until we get to that 90 per cent double dose", Ms Palaszczuk said on Monday. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is standing firm on the state government's requirement for all travellers returning from hotspots to have a PCR test 72 hours before arrival - despite it costing $150 per test for anyone who had no COVID symptoms. Latest case information from Queensland Health. "It shouldn't be a matter of whether someone can afford it or not." Queensland COVID-19 snapshot
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