Queensland puts new traffic light Covid system into place ahead of fresh wave

One state has created a brand new set of regulations to combat a new variant of Covid-19 that has hit Australian shores.

Queenslanders will have to abide by new Covid-19 rules as the state brings in a traffic light system of regulations.

The new regulations come as the pandemic powers of the state’s chief health officer Dr John Gerrard, which had given him the ability to shut the borders and order lockdowns, are set to come to an end.

The traffic light system comes into place as a new “nightmare” variant breaches Australian borders and warnings come into place about the possibility of a new wave in Queensland over Christmas.

The XBB strain that originated in Singapore is reported to be resistant to vaccines and antibodies from previous infections and has been detected in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia.

Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard says that the new rules will help Queenslanders know when to “relax”. Picture: Jerad Williams

A new wave in Queensland in the coming weeks is “quite possible” according to Dr Gerrard, however, he said that no particular variant “is dominant at present” in the state.

Queensland recorded 4447 new cases of Covid-19, 105 hospitalisations and 18 deaths related to the disease in the week of October 20-26.

📣 New COVID-19 traffic light system 🚥
Living with COVID-19 means recognising and responding when the risk increases and decreases.
Here's the latest on the new system. 👇 pic.twitter.com/6zuiRDU5lR

— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) October 31, 2022

The traffic light system that has been brought into place has varying levels of protection for Queenslanders, with the current green level including rules such as staying home if sick and wearing a mask for seven days after receiving a positive test.

The amber tier will be brought on when there are “moderate rates of community transmission” such as entering a new wave.

The new traffic light system is focused on mask wearing. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Seb Haggett

It will include wearing a mask indoors if you can’t socially distance and on public transport, as well as taking a rapid test every two days if a household member tests positive.

When rates of transmission are high, the red tier will be brought on and indoor mask-wearing will be mandated.

Dr Gerrard says the traffic light system has been brought in to show Queenslanders when to wear a mask and when to “relax a little”.

“At the current level, the green level, universal mask-wearing will not be required in most public hospitals for staff and visitors,” he said.