The Queensland Government is implementing strict new coronavirus rules for Queenslanders returning home from interstate.

Key points: Anyone wanting to go into Queensland will require a permit, including residents

Anyone wanting to go into Queensland will require a permit, including residents Drivers with Queensland licence plates will no longer be freely allowed to enter

Drivers with Queensland licence plates will no longer be freely allowed to enter Annastacia Palaszczuk says border control measures could be toughened further

From tomorrow night, anyone returning home will need a special permit to cross back into Queensland.

Anyone who has visited a virus hotspot like Sydney will need to quarantine for 14 days upon returning home.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her message to Queensland residents was "now is not the time to go into New South Wales", and warned border controls could get even tougher.

"We are not ruling out further measures into the future, so you do not want to get caught across the border," she said.

"Everyone please stay in your state."

The new permit requirements will be in force from Friday night. ( AAP: Dave Hunt )

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the change meant drivers with Queensland licence plates would no longer be waved through at the border.

"No one is immune to these stricter border controls… this is about making sure we're all keeping safe and we're all staying within our state and staying at home unless we're going out for essential purposes," he said.

Ms Palaszczuk added: "You're not supposed to be going on a holiday into NSW. What we're saying to Queenslanders is, do the right thing, and stay in Queensland."

The new measures place even tougher restrictions on those wanting to cross into Queensland. ( ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale )

This morning Ms Palaszczuk tweeted the latest coronavirus figures from Queensland Health, which showed 10 new cases overnight, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 953 — 576 of them current.

Queensland COVID-19 snapshot: Confirmed cases so far: 1,150

Confirmed cases so far: 1,150 Deaths: 6

Deaths: 6 Tests conducted: 1,054,583 Active cases: 25 Latest information from Queensland Health.

Queensland Health director-general John Wakefield said having only 10 new cases was a "tremendous result" for the state, and a further indication that the rate of new infections was slowing.

He said that came despite "significantly increasing our testing, over 3,000 patients yesterday" to include people in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Cairns who showed symptoms but were previously not being tested because they had not been overseas recently or been in contact with confirmed cases.

Dr Wakefield thanked frontline healthcare workers and support staff including cleaners, food and services staff.

"Whilst we all retreat from COVID into our homes, those people go out into that environment to care for us and to care for our loved ones," he said.

Queensland police said as of midnight Wednesday, officers had issued 239 fines for people breaching public health directions.

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They had also refused entry to 947 vehicles at state borders, and directed 2,638 people re-entering Queensland into quarantine.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said too many people were still "recklessly and blatantly disregarding" coronavirus rules.

She said most people had been compliant but it was proving extraordinarily difficult to control the number of people using Gold Coast beaches.

"Last weekend we had so many people descend onto the Gold Coast that those social distancing measures were so extraordinarily difficult to enforce, people were still sunbaking, congregating, and this is what we want to avoid," she said.

"What we're saying is please can you just stay home for these next few weeks. You can still get out and do your exercise, but do it locally.

"Our strategy has always been communication, compassion and then ultimately compliance, and I think the messaging is getting across. People are phoning in and genuinely complaining about people because they're concerned when people are breaching those rules."

Five Queenslanders have died from COVID-19 and 372 have recovered.

Queensland has done 66,766 tests, more than any Australian state except NSW.

Gladstone region to get dedicated COVID-19 hospital

Meanwhile, Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles said the acquisition of the Gladstone Mater Misericordiae Hospital would further enhance the capability of the local area's public health response to COVID-19.

"We have funds set aside to purchase the Gladstone Mater and add it to the central Queensland Hospital and Health Service's capacity," Mr Miles said.

"That will, during a COVID-19 outbreak, allow us to have a dedicated COVID ward of 34 beds as well as a dedicated COVID intensive care unit of between four and 12 beds.

"At the end of the pandemic, we will complete a purchase of the hospital, add it to the stock of the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service and we are working through a model, which will allow private providers to continue to operate from that hospital."

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said it would be "absolutely superb" as a COVID-19 hospital for when it would be needed.

"It's got everything that could be needed — in fact, if I designed the facility and built it for that purpose, it couldn't have been better," Dr Young said.

Mercy Health and Aged Care, which currently operates the Gladstone hospital, last year reduced its operating hours after closing the hospital's maternity ward in 2018.

The Queensland Government is purchasing the private Gladstone Mater Misericordiae Hospital. ( ABC News: Jemima Burt )

Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher said the city's residents could be assured health services in the area would "get better and better".

"Not only can we help Gladstone get through this pandemic — if and when it comes — but we can also afterwards take it under the wing of Central Queensland Health and Hospital Service and turn it into a co-shared facility," he said.

"Certainly tough times for the Gladstone region, but this is a reason for us to have a big cheer and a big smile without any hugs today in Gladstone."

Rent assistance measures

Residential and commercial property owners in Queensland are also set to be given tax relief in order to pass on savings to struggling tenants.

Owners will be given a three-month land tax refund, followed by a three-month deferral — if their tenants are struggling from economic hardship.

It also means tenants cannot be evicted during the next six months, if they can't pay their rent due to the impact of the pandemic.

Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad said the State Government had allocated $400 million for the measures.

"It includes every land owner — so mum and dads that have a property and that is the source of their revenue — if they are taxed according to our land tax regime, they will be eligible for a refund and they will be eligible for a deferral," she said.

Ms Trad said the Office of State Revenue [OSR] would be able to take applications from next week.

"There will be the capacity to hop online and have a look already," she said.

"But in terms of that one-on-one engagement, from next Tuesday, as soon as Easter is over … the Office of State Revenue will be up and running and taking enquiries and progressing registrations and applications."

Who should present to COVID-19 clinics? People with a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms, AND , in the last 14 days:

People with , in the last 14 days: they were a close contact or a household contact of a confirmed case,

they were a they had been overseas, including on a cruise Testing is also possible for people who have a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms, AND: live or work in a high-risk setting such as healthcare, aged or residential care, military, correction facilities, detention centres and boarding schools

such as healthcare, aged or residential care, military, correction facilities, detention centres and boarding schools work in a school or child care setting or are a Queensland police officer

or are a live in Brisbane, Gold Coast or Cairns - Brisbane includes the Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Services

live in - Brisbane includes the Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Services live in or travelled from a COVID-19 hotspot

live in or travelled from a live in or travelled from another state

live in or travelled live in a First Nations community Queensland Health has set up testing and fever clinics for people who may be infected with COVID-19. Patients who are tested should remain isolated at home until they receive their test results. For more information about coronavirus call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or go to the Queensland Health website