Posted by 
Queensland is in the midst of a COVID-19 wave, but cases are becoming less severe and a new mask mandate would be "disproportionate", the state's chief health officer says.
Speaking at a press conference today, Dr John Gerrard said 221 patients had been hospitalised in the last four weeks, including two admissions to ICU.
"It appears pretty clear that these waves of COVID-19 are getting less severe," he told reporters.
READ MORE: Top doctor rejects calls for return of masks mandate
"The majority of people in hospital are over the age of 65 and have not received a booster in 2023, the average time of receiving a booster shot is 15 months since their last booster.
"COVID-19 is not going away, it's a number of respiratory viruses we're going to have to deal with."
Variants detected among the admitted patients were a "soup" of Omicron variants, Gerrard said, including EG.5 (Eris), BA.5 (Pirola) and a new variant dubbed "XCH".
Gerrard said a mandated rule for wearing masks in the public and private hospital system would be "disproportionate" to the risk posed by the wave, but encouraged residents to wear masks if they were concerned.
READ MORE: Former Trump lawyer says he had no intention of leaving White House
"I am making no general recommendation about mask-wearing in public or health facilities," he said.
"Health facilities will determine the recommendations on mask-wearing.
"The public health emergency is over, and the response we undertake now must be proportionate."
Gerrard stressed the public health emergency was "well over" and that the state's approach must now "be consistent with the risk".
"Our focus must be on those who are at greatest risk, which is principally people over the age of 65 and ensuring they have had a booster shot this year," he said.
"This is specifically important in aged care facilities, so if you have a relative in aged care who has not been vaccinated this year please try to make sure to get your relative vaccinated."
