Hospitalisations have more than doubled to 205 in the past week, while 73 people have died and 21,761 new cases have been recorded since the beginning of October.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the virus alert level will rise from green to amber on Thursday.
That means face marks are recommended in indoor settings where people can't socially-distance, healthcare facilities and around older or vulnerable people.
"The fourth wave that we have been expecting, now, we believe, has arrived," the premier told parliament on Thursday.
"But no one should be alarmed; we have been living with this virus for a long time and Queenslanders know what to do."
People also being advised to take a rapid antigen test every two days if someone in their household has COVID.
The state government passed laws last month to scale back the CHO's pandemic powers to order the state's borders shut, cities locked down or vaccines mandated for the general public.
Dr Gerrard will be able to order COVID-19 cases to isolate and close contacts to quarantine, and mandate face masks and vaccination in health facilities for another 12 months.
People who test positive for COVID-19 need to isolate, and those with symptoms can also be legally ordered quarantine in one place for up to seven days.
Face mask and vaccination mandates remain able to be enforced in hospitals, disability and other high-risk health settings.
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