Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Queensland Health COVID-19 community traffic light advice system?
Coinciding with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on 31 October 2022, Queensland Health introduced a traffic light system to help Queenslanders understand the current level of risk and take appropriate precautions. This system is advice only and subject to change. Please continue monitoring QLD Health updates for changes in status.
Learn more here.
Green (baseline) means there are low rates of community transmission, and it is advised to stay home if you are sick.
Amber (Tier 1) means there are moderate rates of community transmission, and it is advised to wear a mask in healthcare settings, including private dental practices.
Red (Tier 2) means that there are high rates of community transmission, and it is advised to follow the advice of both the green and amber settings.
Are masks required in dental practices?
As of 6pm on the 31st of October 2022 there are no longer any Public Health Directions in effect requiring you to wear a face mask. As a result of this, patients and visitors in waiting and treatment rooms and staff operating outside of clinical duties are no longer required to wear face masks.
It is recommended you wear a mask if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19, have symptoms or are a close contact.
Each individual practice can have their own policies on mask wearing.
Please monitor COVID-19 updates from the Queensland Government, here.
If I test positive to COVID-19 am I allowed to attend work?
The mandatory isolation requirements for persons who test positive to COVID-19 have been lifted. However, national advice for COVID-19 positive persons is that they should stay home when sick and until at least:
• 24 hours has lapsed since their last fever episode (without the use of fever reducing medications); and
• There is significant improvement in their acute respiratory symptoms (including new or worsening: cough, breathing difficulties, sore throat, or runny nose/nasal congestion).
It will be a matter for individual practices to decide how they manage COVID-19 positive staff and patients.
Please monitor COVID-19 updates from the Queensland Government, here.
What do I do if a patient attends the practice and advises they have tested positive to COVID-19?
The mandatory isolation requirements for persons who test positive to COVID-19 have been lifted however, the national advice is to stay home when you are sick until your symptoms have ceased.
It will be a matter for individual practices to decide how they manage COVID-19 positive staff and patients.
Please monitor COVID-19 updates from the Queensland Government, here.
Are we still required to ask patients screening questions?
The Queensland Government has removed all requirements around screening patients. This is now up to the individual practice on whether they still would like to ask screening questions.
It is the individual practice's decision to screen patients.
Please monitor COVID-19 updates from the Queensland Government, here.
Are dental practice staff required to be vaccinated?
The Queensland Government advised from 6pm, 2 September 2022 the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for people working in primary care, private hospitals and private allied health ended. This includes private dental practice.
Individual practice's can have their own policies surrounding their staff being vaccinated.
We recommend you consult with your employer about any employment or practice requirements. This includes Queensland Health staff who may be required to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations.
More information on the changes to vaccine requirements, here.
Please monitor COVID-19 updates from the Queensland Government, here.
Where can I find current COVID-19 information?
Please monitor COVID-19 updates from the Queensland Government, here.
If you have a questions about COVID-19, you can contact the Queensland Health COVID-19 Hotline, at 134 COVID (13 42 68).
For healthcare settings, Queensland Health has implemented the “COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Manual For acute and non-acute healthcare settings”, which outlines recommended minimum requirements for managing patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and other acute respiratory illnesses in healthcare settings (‘The Manual’). Importantly, Appendix 6 of the Manual provides a framework for deciding whether to escalate or de-escalate the use of PPE in community healthcare, which includes private dental practice. This resource is a recommendation only but may be used by dental practitioners to decide on appropriate PPE levels.