Quite a few changes to the state’s health measurers were announced over the weekend. Here’s what you need to know.

Queensland reported 11,174 cases of coronavirus on Saturday and a further 18,000 on Sunday.

Two deaths were recorded and the number of people in ICU rose to 22.

Quarantine for critical workers

Critical workers will be able to continue working while classified as a ‘close contact’ if they meet strict criteria.

They’ll need to be asymptomatic, fully vaccinated and wearing a mask at all times.

If at any stage they develop symptoms, they need to return to quarantine immediately.

Workers must also:

• travel to and from work in a private vehicle,
• wear appropriate PPE,
• maintain personal hygiene,
• undertake regular symptom surveillance, and
• undertake a RAT on their sixth day.

People are considered critical workers if they’re part of the following industries:

• health
• emergency services, including Police
• the resource sector
• power/utilities
• agriculture and fisheries production
• freight and logistics
• public transport
• teachers
• essential retail such as supermarkets and stores in remote locations/communities
• major manufacturing, distribution, and critical supply chains (for example food and petrol)

Schools

Kids will go back to school two weeks later on Monday, February 7 to avoid the predicted peak of cases.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this will also give families time to get their kids vaccinated.

Non-urgent surgeries

Queensland’s public hospitals will postpone all non-urgent elective surgeries until March 1.

Category 3 and some category 2 elective surgeries will be suspended to “ensure the system has sufficient capacity to deal with the expected peak of Omicron cases”.

Public transport fees

The state government paused its annual CPI public transport fare increase.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said it was in recognition of the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 strain in the Queensland community.

“Public transport fares are adjusted each January in line with the consumer price index,” Mr Bailey said.

Image: Nine News