Queensland health and ambulance workers struck down with COVID-19 will be given an extra 20 days of pandemic leave, under a new scheme to protect sick leave allowances.
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The workers have a higher risk of being exposed to the virus and need additional leave allowances, Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said.
"It's important they are supported with appropriate policies," she said on Wednesday.
"Under current arrangements, staff must use their sick leave before accessing pandemic leave - we are changing that so they can access their pandemic leave as soon as they test positive to COVID-19."
The policy will be retrospective from December, allowing staff to be credited for sick leave used during that period.
The policy also applies to leave taken to care for family or other household members.
Meanwhile, a study has confirmed that medical students are yet another high-risk group who became anxious and depressed at the height of the pandemic.
The research, published in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry, found medical students were at higher risk of mental health issues during the height of virus surges.
About 69.4 per cent of respondents reported social restrictions were a source of stress in their lives.
More than one-third (38.9 per cent) reported a need for psychological and emotional support due to a change in their daily life during the pandemic.
The results compare to an earlier Australian study that had similar results and found 68 per cent of medical students had reported a deterioration of their mental well-being after the pandemic began.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID DATA:
Victoria: 2237 cases, 11 deaths, 222 in hospital with 18 in ICU
NSW: 3666 cases, 21 deaths, 1581 in hospital with 37 in ICU
Queensland: 1776 cases, 24 deaths, 240 in hospital with eight in ICU
Tasmania: 166 cases, no deaths, 24 in hospital with one in ICU
NT: 87 cases, no deaths, 15 in hospital with none in ICU
SA: 646 cases, four deaths, 90 in hospital with eight in ICU
WA: 1335 cases, two deaths, 199 in hospital with seven in ICU.
Australian Associated Press
