Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has strongly encouraged children and teachers to wear masks at school from Monday "except where you can socially distance".
Queensland recorded 5, 795 new COVID cases in the past 24 hours and 22 deaths.
The Premier said Queenslanders should consider wearing a mask when indoors.
"We have today over 980 people currently in our hospitals, that's nearly 1,000 people in our hospitals," she said, combining the number of hospitalisations for COVID-19 and the flu.
It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the return of the $750 COVID disaster payment until September 30 for those forced to isolate or care for someone with COVID-19.
The Premier said extra rapid antigen tests would be available from schools, urging Queenslanders to get a booster vaccine and wear a mask.
"This is to help our hospitals, our doctors, our nurses, it's to help our workforce," she said.
With just three weeks until the Ekka, there was no indication that the show would face cancellation for the third year running.
"I can't see why it can't go ahead if people follow the same thing about wearing masks indoors," Ms Palaszczuk said.
COVID cases are rising across Australia and currently Queensland has the second highest number of hospitalisations in the nation.
Education Minister Grace Grace said a working committee, which included state and non-government education stakeholders, was still investigating ventilation at Queensland schools.
Ms Grace said all Queensland classrooms, staff rooms and libraries were fully air-conditioned with units that brought in fresh air.
