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The US says it will not send government officials to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, after China pledged unspecified "countermeasures" against any such diplomatic boycott.

President Joe Biden said last month that he was considering such a diplomatic boycott amid criticism of China's human rights record, including what Washington says is genocide against minority Muslims in its western region of Xinjiang.

"The Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games given the PRC's ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told a daily press briefing on Monday.

"US diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as business as usual in the face of the PRC's egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang, and we simply can't do that," Psaki said, referring to the People's Republic of China.

China's embassy in Washington did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The diplomatic boycott, which has been encouraged by some members of the US Congress for months, would not affect the attendance of American athletes, she said.

"The athletes on Team USA have our full support. We will be behind them 100 per cent as we cheer them on from home."

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a news briefing earlier in Beijing that those calling for a boycott are "grandstanding" and should stop "so as not to affect the dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States in important areas."

"If the US insists in wilfully clinging to its course, China will take resolute countermeasures," he said, without elaborating.

The United States is next due to host an Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, raising the question of how China might respond in the interim.

Beijing says it opposes the politicisation of sports, but it has punished American sports leagues in the past, including the National Basketball Association, for running afoul of its political red lines.

Chinese officials point out that they have received more than 1500 applications from the US Olympic Committee, which is responsible for submitting names of US athletes to attend the Winter Games, set for February.

Nonetheless, they cite strict COVID-19 restrictions for plans to limit spectator attendance, and Chinese state media have said Beijing does not intend to invite Western politicians who have threatened a boycott.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is the only leader of a major country who has accepted China's invitation to attend.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the United States has been consulting with allies and partners on a "shared approach" to the Beijing Games in light of their concerns about China's human rights record.

Stefano Sannino, chief of the European Union's diplomatic service, said on Friday after meetings with US officials in Washington that it was important to keep up pressure on China over abuses in Xinjiang, but that any boycott was in the domain of individual members states, not common EU foreign policy.

© RAW 2021

The Queensland border will open to interstate COVID-19 hotspots several days early as health authorities prepare for an influx of travellers from next Monday.

The reopening date had been slated for December 17, but it has been brought forward to 1am on December 13 to align with projections of when the state will reach a vaccination rate of 80 per cent.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state was predicted to reach the 80 per cent double-dose target this week, and the December 13 date was chosen to "provide everyone with certainty".

"This is going to be a very, very special time of the year," Ms Palaszczuk said on Monday.

"I know people have said to me personally, some of them haven't seen their grandkids for the first time."

At least 87.37 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have received one jab and 78.67 per cent are fully vaccinated.

To enter Queensland once the border opens, travellers from COVID-19 hotspots must be fully vaccinated and show proof of a negative test taken within three days of their arrival.

Those coming from domestic hotspots must also get another COVID-19 test on day five of their arrival, but only have to wait one week from when they receive their second vaccination dose before entering the state.

The target also means changes for Queensland's NSW border zone, with vaccinated residents travelling only needing a valid pass.

Border passes will be valid for 14 days, but a negative test won't be required.

"That includes people in Queensland being able to go into the border zone for a day trip or to visit family and friends, they would need a border pass but they only need to be fully vaccinated, they won't need a PCR test," Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll warned of lengthy delays for motorists once border restrictions eased, expecting "tens of thousands" to enter the state from Monday.

"We are expecting extensive delays. I need everyone to plan ahead and pack their patience," she said.

Ms Carroll said police would be conducting border checks ranging from random to 100 per cent compliance depending on the time of day, location and traffic flow.

Every vehicle entering the state will be scanned by police.

She said motorists could help ease delays by having a clearly displayed border pass and to travel outside peak hours.

The commissioner reminded motorists who disregard rules they faced fines of $4135.

International arrivals to Queensland must be fully vaccinated and return a negative test within 72 hours of departure, and will also require a test on arrival as well as 14 days in home or hotel quarantine.

The vaccine mandate dictating who can enter venues remains unchanged and will take effect on December 17.

Only fully vaccinated people will be able to enter pubs, clubs, cinemas, festivals and theme parks and visit vulnerable settings such as hospitals and aged care accommodation, Ms D'Ath said.

The announcement comes as the state reported three new cases in quarantine on Monday, two from interstate and one from overseas.

Queensland Health later listed four new exposure sites for passengers who flew from Sydney to Cairns on flight JQ950 and areas of the Cairns Domestic Airport on Friday.

Passengers in rows two to six are listed as close contacts.

Remaining passengers are listed as casual contacts.

Cairns Domestic Airport's gate 17 and carousel one are low risk.

© AAP 2021

A drunk driver who mowed down a mother-of-five in a horrific hit-and-run has been jailed by a Queensland court for a crash he still can't remember.

Kaine Andrew Carter has pleaded guilty to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

The Southport District Court on Monday heard Carter was driving drunk, on drugs and wearing a "moon boot" at the time of the accident on October 17, 2020.

The 32-year-old father-of-three also admitted he had been disqualified from driving just four days before the crash.

His Mazda utility was unregistered and he conceded to leaving the tragic scene without obtaining help.

Tammara Macrokanis, 32, was hitchhiking on the southbound lanes of the M1 when she was hit and killed instantly around 9.30pm.

She had been at a family gathering at Pimpama and stormed out after a disagreement, intending to hitchhike back to her northern NSW home.

Ms Macrokanis made it to the southbound lanes of the Pacific Motorway before being run down by Carter in a crash he can't even remember.

After being slammed on the ute's bonnet, Ms Macrokanis was pinned between the bulbar and the highway guard rail and dragged 21 metres along the M1.

Carter drove for a further 500m before bringing his car to a stop in the emergency lane.

He then drove another 2km, only stopping because the ute wouldn't drive any further.

In a cruel twist, Ms Macrokanis's sister stopped to help Carter while searching for her sister - unaware she was helping her killer.

Police were called to reports of a damaged car parked "dangerously" on the shoulder and discovered blood all over his car.

Carter was "grossly" intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level more than four times over the legal limit combined with methamphetamine, cannabis and prescription drugs.

Ms Macrokanis's body was not found until two hours later after a police search of the area.

"When he hit her and stopped 500m down the road, there is no reason for him not to know that he has hit someone," prosecutor Christopher Cook told the court.

"He has to have known. There was blood all over the car.

"He should not have been on the road after drinking, taking drugs and also being disqualified from driving."

Defence counsel Victoria Trafford-Walker said while Carter conceded he must have hit "something" - he had no memory of the incident.

"He just has no memory of what happened," Ms Trafford-Walker said.

"It is accepted that the driving was irresponsible and dangerous."

Judge Deborah Holliday was scathing of both Carter's decision to get behind the wheel and his reckless driving that night.

"There was a myriad of reasons why you should not have been driving that vehicle on that evening," Judge Holliday said.

"With that combination of circumstances, it defies belief that you got behind the wheel of a vehicle - but you did.

"And when you did, you drive erratically and at speed immediately prior to the accident and failed to keep a proper lookout.

"The consequences were catastrophic."

Carter was sentenced to nine years in prison and will be eligible for parole after serving four years.

© AAP 2021