Magics a COVID-safe event

Magic Millions has confirmed its Gold Coast Yearling Sale, barrier draw and race day are proceeding as scheduled as approved COVID-safe events.

As of 1am AEST on December 21, the Queensland border was closed to individuals who had been in a Queensland Government declared COVID-19 hotspot, currently greater Sydney incorporating 35 New South Wales Local Government areas and one NSW unincorporated area, in the last 14 days.

The Queensland border order is not closed to individuals from NSW who reside in or are located outside a declared COVID-19 hotspot. People must reside outside a declared COVID-19 hotspot for at least 14 days prior to entering Queensland.

All individuals entering Queensland from NSW are required to apply for and receive a Queensland Border Declaration Pass.

Reverting back to previous regulations

It's a matter of one step forward one step back, from a Queensland-NSW travel perspective.

While the latest COVID-19 outbreak has thrown recent plans into disarray, the current restrictions requiring Sydney-based visitors to spend two weeks outside the greater Sydney region prior to entering Queensland was a requirement that had been in place until earlier this month.

Residents of regional NSW were allowed back into Queensland in early November, but the border remained closed to greater Sydney until 28 days with no locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 had been recorded.

That milestone was achieved at the end of November, allowing the Queensland-NSW border to officially open on December 1. Only three weeks later the border has once again been closed to Sydneysiders, but the provision of spending two weeks outside the hotspot provides an opportunity for many to still arrive in Queensland in early January for the Magic Millions Sale.

With 10 days until most horses depart vendor locations, other Sydney-based buyers may choose to conduct their inspection processes entirely on-farm, if spending two weeks outside the hotspot is not a viable option.