Schoolies Week 2020 has been formally cancelled by the Queensland Government, as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

Key points:

• Schoolies Week was scheduled to start on November 21

• The Queensland Government has cancelled all official Schoolies Week 2020 activities

• Accommodation providers will still be able to offer rooms during the Schoolies period

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said all official events, including concerts and beach parties, will no longer go ahead.

"This is a mass event, it poses high risk, high risk to people that attend, all of the young people but also the people that they come in contact with and of course their families and their friends," she said.

"There will be unfortunately no concerts, no organised events, because there can be no mass gatherings."

For the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic read our coronavirus update story.

Ms Palaszczuk said Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young had deemed the traditional gathering of school leavers, which takes place in multiple locations across Queensland including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Airlie Beach, as too risky from a COVID-19 perspective.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has formalised her government's stance on Schoolies Week 2020.(ABC News: Lexy Hamilton-Smith)

"The Chief Health Officer has deemed the event of Schoolies, it is a mass event over multiple days is high risk," she said.

"The Schoolies that we have come to know over the years will not be able to go ahead in that form this year.

"This is a very tough decision."

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Mayor laments slow reaction

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate had previously made calls for school leavers celebrations in the city to be cancelled, and said he wished the Government had moved more quickly.

"I should have jumped up and down a little early, let's put it that way," he said.

"My main message to school leavers this year is: '[it's] your right of passage to be an adult, [so] you are the adult in handling this COVID-19'.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate had previously made calls for Schoolies Week to be cancelled.(ABC Gold Coast: Jennifer Huxley)

"Remember one thing, if you make a mistake and think 'it is all about me' and you take the virus back into your home and infect your mum and dad and your grandparents you will never forget this Schoolies.

"Get onto Zoom, enjoy yourself in that way.

"Schoolies is all about sharing it from your heart this time around."

Schools and accommodation providers will be issued with formal, written notification that official Schoolies Week activities have been called off.

The Premier said, however, that accommodation will still be available during the Schoolies Week period, but gatherings in residences including holiday units will be limited to no more than 10 people state-wide from November 21 to December 11.

"We also know that our tourism sector needs our support so, just as any other person can go along and book accommodation people are welcome to continue to do that in those small groups right across Queensland," she said.

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While Councillor Tate urged any accommodation providers who receive Schoolies cancellations to refund deposits, regardless of whether the cancellation period has expired, the CEO of bookings agency Schoolies.com, Matt Lloyd said a more flexible cancellation policy was already in place.

"We have introduced some temporary flexibility into our booking terms and conditions to offer school leavers additional time and options around their Schoolies stay," he said.

"Those who are unable to travel to their chosen destination due to Government restrictions will be offered the opportunity to postpone their stay, switch to a local accommodation provider or request a credit note or refund."

Students still keen to celebrate

Red Frogs say most Year 12 students are very keen on attending Schoolies 2020 celebrations.(Supplied: Red Frogs)

Harm prevention network Red Frogs has been vising schools in the lead-up to Year 12 Graduations, and director Andy Gourley said the majority of students were still keen to celebrate.

"The hunger's there — and I'd say for 90 per cent they are still very keen to go," he said.

He said the organisation would take official health advice into account and, if it is safe to do so, will consider ways to offer support if high school graduates celebrate at unofficial or private events.