Chief medical officer Paul Kelly warns against Covid-19 complacency as winter surge peaks

The winter Omicron Covid-19 surge may have hit its peak, but Australia’s top doctor has warned this won’t be the “last wave” and authorities were preparing for the next bout.

The winter Omicron Covid-19 surge may have hit its peak, but Australia’s top doctor has warned this won’t be the “last wave” and authorities were preparing for the next bout.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly briefed national cabinet about the Covid-19 situation across the country on Thursday, confirming he was “increasingly confident” the peak had been reached based on data showing hospitalisations had decreased nationwide.

In Queensland, analysis of Covid-19 data revealed the 7-day average for hospitalisations had fallen for the 10th straight day to 736 patients — the lowest it had been since mid-July.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly briefed national cabinet today. Picture: Gary Ramage

The death toll from Covid-19 in Queensland increased by 31 people to a total of 1627.

On Friday Queensland’s Covid numbers declined further, with the state recording only 4926 new cases.

New cases have significantly dropped since yesterday, bringing Queensland’s total active cases down from 45,097 to 42,437.

Eight people with the virus have died, while 736 remain in hospital, 22 of those in ICU.

There has been no reported change in the state’s vaccination rates, with 92.9 per cent of people fully vaccinated and 94.4 per cent having received their first jab.

“This is coming to the end of this wave or at least the peak of this wave,” Prof Kelly said.

“But this will not be the last wave, and we will continue to have to plan for that, be ready to know when that’s happening and to respond to it accordingly.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the update leaders received on Thursday was “consistent” with the advice national cabinet had been provided during its emergency July meeting to deal with Covid-19.

He signalled this meant Covid-19 pandemic leave payments, extended until September, would expire as planned.

Mr Albanese again appealed to people to get their booster shots if they are eligible and warned against complacency.

“We know that last summer there was another spike, another wave, and we should not be complacent about this issue, even though it would appear … that we have reached a peak,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Gary Ramage

The proportion of Queenslanders who have had two doses of the vaccine is about to hit 93 per cent according to the latest data, but the state still has the lowest rates of third dose coverage in the country.

Just 59.6 per cent of people above 16 have had a third dose in Queensland, compared to the national average of 68.4 per cent.

National cabinet also discussed the ongoing monkeypox outbreak that has swept Europe and spread to Australia, with 58 cases of the disease detected on our shores so far.

Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed the government had secured 450,000 doses of the vaccine from Bavarian Nordic.

The first delivery of about 22,000 doses will arrive in the country later this week, with deliveries to continue into next year.

Mr Butler said Australia was one of only a few countries that had been able to secure access to the third-generation vaccine.

The vaccines will be rolled out though state and territory sexual health clinics.

National cabinet will next meet a day before the Jobs and Skills Summit in September, either in person or virtually.