The Queensland Government has discontinued its Covid-19 traffic light system due to evidence indicating a decline in Covid waves.
The disease will instead be monitored in the same way as other acute respiratory illnesses, like influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
According to a government statement, the change also follows the World Health Organisation declaration in May that Covid is no longer a public health emergency.
“COVID-19 waves are declining in trend and severity, in line with evidence pointing to the illness becoming endemic,” Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said.
“While the virus remains very active in the community, we haven’t seen major surges in hospitalisations since December last year.
“More Queenslanders are in intensive care with influenza than with COVID-19 and we are very concerned about the recent surge in influenza cases in adults and children.”
Between 12 and 18 June this year, there were 2721 recorded active Covid cases in Queensland.
During that same period, there were 4389 active cases of influenza.
