Traffic light advice

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you catching and spreading COVID-19.

We provide advice on what you should do using a traffic light system. The traffic light level – red, amber, or green – is based on the current level of risk in the community.

You can wear a mask at any time if you choose to.

You should always stay home if you’re sick, maintain good hygiene and keep up to date with your vaccinations.

Find out about the different traffic light levels and how they can help you make informed decisions to enhance your personal safety.

What each traffic light means

Green (baseline) means there are low rates of community transmission and Queensland is not in a COVID-19 wave.

When the traffic light is green, we recommend you:

• stay home if you're sick
• keep up to date with your vaccinations
• maintain good hygiene
• take a rapid antigen test (RAT) if you get COVID-19 symptoms
• wear a mask if required by a healthcare provider, venue, or household.

If you get COVID-19:

• register your RAT result
• stay home until you’re well again
• use the healthdirect Australia COVID-19 Symptom and Antiviral Eligibility Checker
• wear a mask for 7 days after you test positive
• avoid visiting hospitals, aged care, or disability care for 7 days after you test unless you are receiving care
• ask household members to closely monitor symptoms.

 

Amber (Tier 1) means there are moderate rates of community transmission and Queensland is coming off a wave or may be entering a new wave.

When the traffic light is amber, we recommend you wear a mask:

• in healthcare settings
• indoors, if you can't socially distance
• on public transport
• if you are older or medically at risk
• if you’re around people who are vulnerable to COVID-19
• if required by a venue or household.

People who are older or have medical conditions can be more vulnerable to serious illness if they get COVID-19.

Places where it's more likely people may have COVID-19 include healthcare settings such as hospital emergency departments and general practitioner (GP) waiting rooms.

Take a rapid antigen test (RAT) if you get COVID-19 symptoms – or every two days, if someone in your household tests positive to COVID-19.

If you get COVID-19:

• register your RAT result
• stay home until you’re well again
• use the healthdirect Australia COVID-19 Symptom and Antiviral Eligibility Checker
• wear a mask for 7 days after you test positive
• avoid visiting hospitals, aged care, or disability care for 7 days after you test unless you are receiving care
• ask household members to closely monitor symptoms.

You should always stay home if you’re sick, maintain good hygiene and keep up to date with your vaccinations.

 

Red (Tier 2) means there are high rates of community transmission and Queensland is entering or in a COVID-19 wave.

When the traffic light is red, we recommend you wear a mask:

• indoors, even if you can socially distance
• on public transport
• if you’re older or medically at risk
• if you’re around people vulnerable to COVID-19

People who are older or have medical conditions can be more vulnerable to serious illness if they get COVID-19.

Places where it's more likely people may have COVID-19 include healthcare settings such as hospital emergency departments and general practitioner (GP) waiting rooms.

Take a rapid antigen test (RAT) if you get COVID-19 symptoms – or every two days, if someone in your household tests positive to COVID-19.

If you get COVID-19:

• register your RAT result
• stay home until you’re well again
• use the healthdirect Australia COVID-19 Symptom and Antiviral Eligibility Checker
• wear a mask for 7 days after you test positive
• avoid visiting hospitals, aged care, or disability care for 7 days after you test unless you are receiving care
• ask household members to closely monitor symptoms.

You should always stay home if you’re sick, maintain good hygiene and keep up to date with your vaccinations.

 

Other measures

The advice in the traffic light system is a recommendation only and not a legal requirement. However, if there is a serious risk to the public health system or the community from COVID-19, the Chief Health Officer may mandate:

• wearing masks in stated circumstances
• isolation for people with COVID-19 and quarantine for symptomatic close contacts
• vaccinations for workers in certain settings.

National COVID-19 Community Protection Framework for a COVIDSafe Australia

Baseline, Tier 1 and Tier 2 mentioned above correspond to Base Level Strategies, Tier 1 and Tier 2 respectively in the National COVID-19 Community Protection Framework for a COVIDSafe Australia.