October 31, 2022
The State Government will use a “traffic light” advice system from now to to provide information about the level of COVID-19 threat.
- Green will mean low rates of community transmission. Mask-wearing will be optional but if a healthcare provider or other organisation asks someone to wear a mask, they are asked to co-operate.
- Amber will mean community transmission has increased to moderate rates. People will be advised to wear masks in healthcare settings, indoors when they cannot socially distance, on public transport, if they are older, immunocompromised or have other health issues, or if they are around people who are vulnerable to COVID-19. Close contacts will also be advised to take a rapid antigen test (RAT) every two days
- Red will mean a high rate of community transmission. People will be advised to follow all the advice for the amber and green colours, as well as wearing a mask while indoors, even when they can socially distance.
Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the traffic light system would simplify health messaging.
He said living with COVID-19 was now the reality and it would no longer be treated as a public health emergency.
The traffic light setting would be reviewed regularly, and the level will move up, down or stay the same depending on the rate of COVID-19 transmission in the community at the time.
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At 6:00pm on Monday (October 31), the last remaining Chief Health Officer public health directions will be revoked in Queensland.
This means hospitals will revert to existing infection control practices, rather than mandatory mask wearing.
From November 1, the Chief Health Officer will have limited powers to mandate mask wearing, require isolation for people with COVID-19 and quarantine for symptomatic close contacts, and mandate vaccinations for workers in certain settings. If these powers are used, they would supersede the traffic light advice system.
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Another 18 deaths were added to Queensland’s official COVID-19 toll on Friday, taking the total number of fatalities since the pandemic began to 2274.
All but seven of these deaths have occurred since the Omicron wave coincided with the re-opening of Queensland’s borders.
The latest deaths occurred in the seven days prior to midnight on October 25.
The Queensland Health statistics show there are currently 105 people being treated for COVID-19 in Queensland hospitals, including two patients in intensive care.
A total of 4447 new cases were officially reported to Queensland Health during the seven days, a figure which is known to be under-estimated.
FOOTNOTE: Currently Queensland’s COVID-19 status is “green”
