Parents confused over mask-wearing recommendation for school students across Victoria

Victorian parents say they are confused after schools issued a mask recommendation for students aged eight years and over.

Parents were on Monday sent a letter signed by the heads of public, independent, and Catholic schools in the state which asked for face masks to be worn indoors.

The state government, however, said it was not a mandate and said it was just reiterating COVID-19 winter settings.

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"We're asking all students aged eight and over and staff to wear masks when in class from now to the end of winter. Children won't be required to wear masks when they are outdoors," the letter read.

Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan said health advice over masks in schools has not changed.

"Schools are doing their bit by reinforcing the health minister advice to wear masks indoors," she said.

"Let's be clear: it's not a mandate."

Many children who arrived at the school gates this morning across the state were already masked, although most had their faces uncovered.

"It should make it more clear for people to understand," one parent said this morning.

Victoria has recorded 12,201 new cases of COVID-19 - the highest increase since May.

There are a total of 65,416 known active cases in the state, with 897 in hospital.

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New South Wales is prioritising a different aspect of COVID-19 management as its schools return, with nine million rapid antigen kits to be handed out in the next four weeks.

It comes amid concern over the current isolation rules, which state Premier Dominic Perrottet has said should be reconsidered when summer arrives.

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He is pushing for health authorities to look at reducing the current mandatory seven-day isolation rule for COVID-19 diagnosis, following the federal government's reinstatement of pandemic leave payments.

NSW has recorded 13,544 new cases today.

There are 2205 cases in hospital.

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COVID-19 hospitalisations meanwhile are at an all-time high in Queensland, with Health Minister Yvette D'Ath saying modelling failed to predict the severity of the current wave.

Nearly 900 people with the disease have been admitted to hospital - but intensive care admissions are down, which health experts attribute to high vaccination levels.

Nonetheless, the virus is also pushing staffing levels to the brink, with close to 3000 - or seven to eight per cent of the workforce - off sick.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is resisting the return of a mask mandate, though she has advised teachers and students to wear them at school, and for people to go masked at the upcoming Ekka.

Queensland AMA head Dr Michael Bonning says there's "good health evidence" to back mask-wearing, even as states refuse to re-impose mandates amid a new COVID-19 wave.

"At the moment we are also very early in this wave," he said.

"We expect the peak into August so we are nervous about where the health system will be able to cope and where it will struggle."

He called on federal, state and territory governments to deliver consistent messaging, as per a commitment in National Cabinet's Saturday meeting.

"Two days out from that, we are already changing the plan," Bonning said.

He also pushed back against suggestions the seven-day isolation requirement be reduced or waived.

"We're seeing record levels of hospitalisation," he said.

"I'm still backing COVID as the biggest problem in our health system at the moment."

And South Australian leaders will hold an emergency meeting today as the state battles new Omicron COVID variants.

The use of face masks and strain on the hospital system will be on the agenda as the state tallies a record number of people in hospital.