Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday congratulated Queensland and the NT for hitting the milestone set out in the national reopening plan, joining New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT, South Australia, and Tasmania at 80 per cent fully vaccinated.New South Wales and Victoria reached the 80 per cent double-jab mark in October, with both states and the ACT now over 90 per cent.Nearly 90 per cent of Australians aged over 16 have had two doses of the vaccine. Thursday’s update comes as Queensland prepares to throw its borders open to fully vaccinated interstate visitors for the first time in more than four months.The Sunshine State originally planned to open the borders on December 17, when it had forecast the 80 per cent vax rate would be achieved, but this week Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk brought the reopening forward to Monday December 13. “This is a great day for Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said of the 80 per cent achievement. “Very few places in the world have got to this level of protection before a COVID wave arrives. The credit for this belongs to each and every Queenslander.“But we can’t stop here. Let’s get to 90 per cent and beyond.”Queensland recorded no new community cases on Wednesday but two Omicron infections previously detected in hotel quarantine in Cairns and Brisbane were reclassified.The state is expecting a surge in Covid cases once the borders reopen, having successfully suppressed the virus through a strict border strategy. Queensland’s border pass and hotel quarantine systems have kept case numbers low but the measures have also drawn criticism from business groups and individuals, who the rules have been too harsh and unfairly tilted towards celebrities and sportspeople. Those who have received both doses of the vaccine and with evidence of a negative test from within 72 hours of entry will be welcomed into Queensland from interstate hot spots from 1am on Monday.
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