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Queensland's incoming chief health officer Dr Krispin Hajkowicz will no longer take up the role for personal reasons.

Dr Hajkowicz had been set to take over as the state's top doctor when Jeannette Young was sworn in as Queensland governor next week.

"For personal reasons, Dr Krispin Hajkowicz will no longer be taking up the position of chief health officer," Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

Ms D'Ath said she respected the decision and Deputy CHO Dr Peter Aitken will act in the role until a permanent replacement is appointed.

Dr Young will be sworn in as Queensland's 27th governor on Monday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk led tributes to Dr Young's work in state parliament earlier on Thursday, describing the burden she carried during the pandemic as "unprecedented".

"This has meant enormous pressure, sleepless nights, and a torrent of information which she has processed calmly and clinically, with compassion and care," she said.

"I am proud to say that, in my opinion, Dr Young has led Australia and the world in COVID health measures."

Dr Young steps down as Queensland's longest-serving chief health officer after 16 years in the role.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, she campaigned for better health outcomes for issues including smoking, obesity and the flu.

"Anything from a public health perspective that improves the lives of Queenslanders - from the inner-cities to our remote indigenous communities," Ms Palaszczuk added.

Ms D'Ath said the state was now in the best possible position, with low COVID-19 case numbers and no community spread, as it prepares to open its borders in December.

"She has taken her role extremely seriously, it has weighed heavily. She knew what the risks were in every single decision she made," she said.

© AAP 2021

NSW has recorded 293 new local cases of COVID-19 and two deaths after a Sydney gym became the centre of a coronavirus cluster.

NSW Health said there were 89,678 tests undertaken in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday and 11 fewer new local cases than the previous day.

There are 381 COVID-19 patients in NSW hospitals - down by 37 from the previous day.

There are 82 COVID patients intensive care - 15 fewer than the previous day - 38 of whom require ventilation.

Now 93.3 per cent of people 16 and older have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 86 per cent of adults are fully jabbed.

In the 12-15 year old age group, 78.5 per cent have had their first dose and 54.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.

The death toll from the current outbreak, which began in mid-June, is 508.

A fully vaccinated woman in her 90s died at Tarrawanna aged care facility, north of Wollongong, where she acquired her infection.

A man in his 70s from southwestern Sydney died at St George Hospital. He had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The cluster in the Hunter New England Local Health District continues to grow with 79 new cases taking the number of active cases there to 1089.

There were 51 cases in southwest Sydney and another 30 in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District which includes the town of Albury on the Victorian border.

NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus in sewage samples collected from across NSW, including Barraba, Moree, and Uralla.

Meanwhile, there are 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to City Gym, in Darlinghurst in the inner city, involving people who attended while infectious or acquired their infection at the facility, NSW Health said.

People who used the gym at certain times between October 18 and 23 or on the 25th are considered casual contacts and must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.

The highly anticipated move to unfettered travel to the regions is due to start on Monday after being delayed over lagging vaccination numbers outside Sydney.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has hinted it could happen sooner, saying his COVID-19 economic recovery committee will be examining "aspects of the roadmap" this week.

© AAP 2021

Victoria has recorded 1923 COVID-19 cases and 25 people have died with the virus, the highest daily death toll from the current outbreak.

The health department confirmed on Thursday the state is now managing 22,189 active infections.

There are 746 people in hospital, with the seven-day average at 780. Of those, 137 are in intensive care with 85 on a ventilator.

The latest deaths take the toll from the current outbreak to 272.

About 77 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over are now fully vaccinated.

There were 82,648 tests processed and 22,189 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at state-run hubs on Wednesday.

The latest figures come as authorities warn there's a high risk of a thunderstorm asthma event in the state's southwest, Wimmera and Mallee districts, while Melbourne may be moderately affected.

The combination of high grass pollen levels, severe thunderstorms and strong winds on Thursday means a "large number of people" may develop asthma symptoms quickly, the health department said.

"Our hospitals are experiencing significant demand due to COVID-19, so it's important you stay well," an alert said.

Those at risk are being advised to avoid being outdoors during storms and the winds that precede them, and remember to take preventative medication.

A thunderstorm asthma event in 2016 killed nine people and saw thousands more hospitalised.

Meanwhile, half a million people are being urged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as statewide restrictions are set to ease once again.

From 6pm Friday, people in metropolitan Melbourne will be allowed to travel to the regions and interstate, masks will not be required outdoors, and non-essential retail stores will be able to open.

But about 500,000 Victorians have yet to receive their first vaccine dose, with only 83 per cent of people aged in their 20s getting a first jab.

© AAP 2021