Covid traffic light system scrapped

Queensland’s Covid traffic light system will end today, with the virus set to be monitored the same as any other disease, but it comes with a warning about this year’s influenza outbreak.

• Deadly surge: Urgent vax call

Queensland’s Covid traffic light system will end today, with the virus set to be monitored the same as any other disease.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said about 250 people were currently hospitalised with Covid – most over the age of 65 who were not up to date with their vaccinations.

Chief Heath Officer John Gerrard said Covid was still “very common” in the community, but the state was not seeing the same surges as last year.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“As the Covid pandemic evolves so does our response here in Queensland,” he said.

“Covid-19 is now part of our reality much like other respiratory illnesses.”

He said the chance of being hospitalised with Covid decreased by two thirds if people were up to date with vaccinations.

But Dr Gerrard said despite the change, “we cannot say the pandemic is over”.

“The activity of Covid-19 in the community is still outside the ordinary (of) what you’d expect with any respiratory virus.

“We will only really know where the pandemic is over in retrospect.”

The Chief Health Officer also warned pregnant women to ensure they were vaccinated against influenza, saying there had been several serious cases in hospital.

By next week, the number of Queenslanders hospitalised with influenza is expected to exceed the number of people hospitalised with Covid.

Of those, 92 per cent are unvaccinated, and span from children under five to the elderly.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman. Picture: Liam Kidston