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  • Qld lowers COVID-19 pandemic alert level

    Author: AAP

Queensland will lower its coronavirus alert level to green as the state emerges from its fourth wave of COVID-19.

Acting Premier Steven Miles says the virus alert level will drop after nine weeks of amber-level restrictions under the state's traffic light system.

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This means Queensland is no longer in the grip of a COVID-19 wave, with low rates of community transmission.

However, people are still being urged to stay home if they are sick and keep up to date with their vaccinations.

Health Minister Yvette D'ath said Queensland could still face more COVID waves.

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"I am pleased to see that we've come through the fourth wave," she said on Wednesday.

"We've seen a 39 per cent decrease in active cases over the last two weeks, but we will see more waves well into the future.

"We will keep managing it under the traffic light system and making recommendations to the public."

Fourth-wave numbers peaked just before Christmas and 80 per cent of the state's population is believed to have had some form of COVID since the pandemic began in 2020.

There are currently 5904 active cases in Queensland, with another 806 reported on Wednesday but there are no patients in intensive care across the state.

"This wave was significantly less severe than previous waves," Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said.

"We don't know the exact figures, but probably around 80 per cent of the Queensland population have had COVID by now.

"That means that the majority of us now have hybrid immunity, that is, a combination of vaccination and natural infection."

Dr Gerrard said it was difficult to predict the next stage of the pandemic but expects infection numbers would continue to decline.

"Our general hope is that these waves will be continued to become less severe and hopefully less frequent and ultimately become seasonal," he said.

"But this is at this stage still theory."

People who test positive for COVID still need to self-isolate. Face mask and vaccination mandates remain enforceable in hospitals and disability and other high-risk health settings.

"Importantly, the virus is still here, and it is still possible to spread the virus, so if you are unwell, please stay at home," Dr Gerrard said.

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