COVID-19 (coronavirus) advice for the UQ community - EVENTS
What is an 'event'?
The Queensland Chief Health Officer's 1 July 2020 directive defines an event as a planned public or social occasion:
- involving the movement of a large crowd and in higher densities; and/or
- is occasional in nature; and/or
- involving people who generally would not normally interact day-to-day; and/or
- incorporating a broad range of activities; and/or
- involving food or beverage provision
UQ events that need to be considered under the UQ approval process and Queensland Health direction include:
- Graduation ceremonies
- Public lectures and seminars
- Awards ceremonies
- Market days
- Concerts and performances
- Movie nights
- UQ Union events and barbecues
- Student-organised guest lectures and speakers
- Protests
- External stakeholder engagement activities (for example, gatherings of industry, government or donor groups who would not normally interact with each other day-to-day).
Planning for Events at UQ has more information.
Nov 2020 - event restrictions relaxed
The University's event restrictions were relaxed in November 2020, meaning people from outside the UQ community can now attend UQ events. In further new information:
- 1500 attendees can now attend outdoor events (up from 1000), with a COVID safe checklist. Larger events require a COVID safe plan.
- Occupant density for indoor and outdoor events to be based on one person per two square metres. Physical distancing to be maintained at 1.5m to the extent possible.
Event planners should note that permissible events at UQ still include those relating to:
- Enhancing student experience (current and future)
- Christmas / end-of-year
- Student Employability
- Activities the UQ Senior Executive Team deems University-critical
Guest researchers, industry stakeholders, families and the public are all welcome to attend events.
UQ made the adjustment due to Queensland having no recent COVID-19 community transmission.
The University’s event approval process remains unchanged and is detailed in COVID-Safe Guide – Planning for Events at UQ.
UQ Sport, Customs House, museums, galleries and public facilities and services -- including tennis courts, playgrounds, cafes and restaurants -- are subject to other government guidelines.
Events may need to be postponed or cancelled if community conditions raise transmission risk, and/or to align with government direction and advice.
See Planning for Events at UQ for more information.
What events are allowed?
- Current student experience and future student recruitment events are prioritised.
- Christmas / end-of-year
- Student Employability
- Indoor events should have fewer than 1000 total attendees, or 1500 if the event is outdoors. Density restrictions and physical distancing requirements still apply.
- Special event planning is required for indoor events of between 1000 and 10,000 people, and for outdoor events with 1500 to 10,000 attendees.
- Events may be moved to manage densities of people around campus.
- Consideration is given to the number of events on campus at any one time.
- Venues must be well spaced out and organisers must retain an event report.
- Event organisers are advised to make contingency plans for an online version of planned face-to-face events.
More information: Permitted events approval process
Indoor and outdoor dancing allowed
From 14 December 2020 for UQ
- Indoor and outdoor dancing is allowed, subject to the one person per 2 square metre rule. Businesses should ensure patrons practice physical distancing in dance areas.
- Businesses are required to keep contact details for a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 56 days.
New definition of ‘ticketed and allocated seating’.
From 14 December 2020, ticketed and allocated seating means fixed seating where a patron is:
a. given a record of their assigned seat number by way of a ticket; and
b. remains in their assigned seat to the extent possible while they are present at the venue or event.