Masks back on: COVID wave shifts Queensland from green to amber state

Queensland residents have been asked to wear masks on public transport and crowded indoor areas as the state’s fourth COVID wave approaches.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said health advice suggested the state shift from green to amber under the new traffic-light system launched almost two weeks ago.

“As always, stay home if you are sick and get a RAT test,” Palaszczuk told parliament on Thursday morning.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The shift means it is recommended, but not required, for people to wear masks in healthcare settings, on public transport and rideshares, crowded indoor areas and around vulnerable people.

Rapid antigen tests are also encouraged every two days for people living with someone who has COVID. The advice will be effective from Friday.

Pandemic patients in Queensland hospitals have doubled to 203 since last Thursday, with a 15 per cent increase in active cases, she said.

“As always, stay home if you are sick and get a RAT test,” Palaszczuk told parliament on Thursday. “I encourage all Queenslanders to ensure they and their families are fully vaccinated.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the change in traffic-light status meant Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard felt the public needed to be more alert ahead of higher of community transmission rates.

Speaking to reporters, Gerrard said the new wave was likely to peak within four to six weeks and was not expected to trigger a further escalation of advice.

“We expect to see waves of this intermediate waves of this type continuing for some months or even longer,” he said.

Health authorities in Victoria had been worried about a new wave driven by falling immunity and the new XBB variant.

Announcing Queensland’s traffic light system last month, Gerrard said that if the southern states experienced a new surge, Queensland would follow within weeks.

“[The COVID-19 situation] is not the same as 2020-2021, when you had an unvaccinated population, it’s completely different,” he said.

Gerrard has lost his sweeping pandemic powers this month as part of the government’s updated approach to the virus, but will be able to order mask-wearing and quarantine on a case-by-case basis.

Queensland Health reported 4427 new cases and 24 deaths in its last weekly update on November 4.

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