Queensland's chief health officer says there is "increasing pressure" nationally to return a mask mandate.
There were 34,931 new COVID cases reported in the past 24 hours and COVID-related deaths across the nation had steadily increased over recent months, with the daily death count reaching its highest level since February.
Queensland's CHO John Gerrard told 4BC radio that the return of mask mandates were being "discussed" with his counterparts from other states.
"I can say that nationally, there is increasing pressure, there is a school of thought that we should be mandating masks again," he said.
But Dr Gerrard said he would personally prefer to wind back public health mandates.
"We want to move away from restrictions, towards more self-regulation and self-responsibility – that means being up-to-date with your vaccines," he said.
Currently 3,272 COVID patients are in hospitals across Australia, according to figures reported so far today.
Authorities have warned of a third COVID-19 wave, driven by two new variants BA.4 and BA.5, which was expected to put pressure on the health system.
Earlier this week, Dr Gerrard said we were entering a "different phase" of the pandemic.
"There will be ongoing waves with new variants going on for months, or even years, and the era of public health directions is coming to an end," he said.
Dr Gerrard said people over the age of 65, and those who are immunocompromised, should get a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Currently 3,272 COVID patients are in hospitals across Australia, according to figures reported so far today.
Authorities have warned of a third COVID-19 wave, driven by two new variants BA.4 and BA.5, which was expected to put pressure on the health system.
Earlier this week, Dr Gerrard said we were entering a "different phase" of the pandemic.
"There will be ongoing waves with new variants going on for months, or even years, and the era of public health directions is coming to an end," he said.
Dr Gerrard said people over the age of 65, and those who are immunocompromised, should get a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.