A new COVID-19 traffic light system will be introduced in Queensland.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard says it will provide Queenslanders with a guide as to the level of risk, including when they should consider wearing a mask indoors when transmission increases.

“The traffic light system based on an agreed national framework,” he told reporters today.

He said it was important to be able to change the response, based on the level of risk.

While community transmission had remained low in the past two months, Dr Gerrard predicts the virus will exist forever.

At the current lowest level, universal mask-wearing will not be required in most hospitals for staff and visitors.

“You be aware that the Chief Health Officer in Victoria has indicated that they may be at the start of another wave, we have not detected such a wave in Queensland at this stage,” he said.

“However it is quite possible we will experience another wave in the coming weeks.”

He said some GPs and private practice may still request masks be worn.

He said it was reasonable to assume that at least two thirds to three quarters of Queenslanders have been infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

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