Qld mask rules to be relaxed as vaccination rate hits 80 per cent

Queenslanders will be able to stop wearing masks in schools, offices, cafes, pubs and clubs within days, and there’s even more good news for parents who hate homeschooling. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Queenslanders will be able to ditch their masks within days and breathe easier in schools, offices, cafes, shops, pubs and clubs.

And parents have received positive signs around the future of dreaded home schooling.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday confirmed “another small step back towards life as normal” through the removal of masks as soon as the state’s single vaccination rate hit 80 per cent – with it hovering at 79.48 per cent on Monday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says it will soon be safe for schools, cafes, pubs, clubs, hairdressers and workplaces to go mask-free. (NCA NewsWire/Jono Searle)

“Queenslanders have done an incredible job all through the pandemic and this is their reward,” Ms Palaszczuk said, following another day of no community cases.

“The more of us who are vaccinated, the faster we return to life the way it used to be.”

But it may be short lived, with Acting Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken confirming authorities would likely have to mandate them to deal with future outbreaks, and people will still need to wear masks at airports and on planes, as per federal rules.

They will be recommended on public transport where people can’t socially distance, but won’t be enforced.

Dr Aitken predicted there would be an “evolution” in mask wearing, and some people would choose to wear them anyway to protect themselves once the virus leaked into the state through opened borders.

Meanwhile, parents received good signs around the future of home schooling, with authorities considering new modelling that recommends schools don’t close in future outbreaks.

St Thomas More College, at Sunnybank, was the site of a cluster in recent months. (Steve Pohlner)

Doherty modelling, used to brief national cabinet and released on Monday, recommends ongoing school attendance through rapid antigen testing of students during outbreaks.

Students would only be sent home if they test positive to Covid, similar to UK policy.

“Allowing ongoing school attendance for class contacts of a case through a ‘test to stay’ strategy achieves equivalent outbreak containment to home quarantine and enables face-to-face learning,” the document reads.

“If symptomatic students are diagnosed and sent home early, on average only tens of teaching days will be lost per incursion.

“Twice weekly testing of students markedly increases the chances of nipping an outbreak in the bud.”

While more a-symptomatic students would be sent home, there would be far fewer large outbreaks, modellers said.

Patrons wearing masks around the Brisbane CBD. (NCA NewsWire / John Gass)

The document’s release came as Queensland authorities confirmed schools and workplaces wouldn’t necessarily be plunged into lockdowns when outbreaks begin, with decisions depending on how many people are vaccinated.

Amid calls from businesses for more certainty, Dr Aitken said rules, restrictions and “rewards” would be decided along “relative risk”.

Asked around the possibility of business shutdowns, he said public health units would check how many staff were vaccinated and the community’s vaccination levels before deciding.

“So I just ask all businesses, the best thing you can do to protect your business in those circumstances is to make sure your staff is vaccinated,” he said.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said there were no hard and fast answers that would apply in all circumstances.

Ms D’Ath said the government would continue to work with the retail, hospital and tourism sector to provide as much clarity as possible “but what we know about this virus is you can only provide so much clarity”.

Originally published as Qld mask rules to be relaxed as vaccination rate hits 80 per cent