Top Queensland doctor expects jump in school COVID-19 cases

Queensland has today reported 7,311 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths amid warnings school student infections will rise in coming weeks.

There are currently 496 people in hospital with coronavirus across the state, with 45 requiring intensive care.

Queensland yesterday recorded 3660 infections and 13 fatalities.

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Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said officials were monitoring cases in children after last week's return to classroom learning for students.

"We're averaging about between 1,000 and 1,500 children diagnosed formally with COVID per day across the state - almost all of whom have very mild disease," Dr Gerrard said.

"Of those children, about half are in the primary school age between five and 11 and the other half are in the secondary school age between 12 and 17."

Dr Gerrard says he's expecting the number of transmissions in children to rise over the coming weeks.

"There is still no clear trend among children but it is still very early.

"It would be a very big surprise if we don't see a number of new cases in children in the next couple of weeks but so far it's not a significant rise."

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said she wanted to thank the parents who ensured their children received the first COVID-19 vaccination jab.