Crisis point: Covid, flu hospitalisations edge 1000

Queensland hospitals are buckling amid the third Covid wave and flu outbreaks, with the number of patients now in hospital with either virus edging towards 1000.

Queensland hospitals are buckling, as the number of patients hospitalised for Covid-19 and the flu edges towards 1000.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said earlier on Sunday that there were 930 people in hospital with Covid-19, however Queensland Health has since confirmed this figure is actually a combination of 876 people with Covid and 54 with the flu.

The state recorded 5989 new Covid-19 cases overnight, bringing the number of active cases to 46,699.

There are 20 people in intensive care with Covid, which is the highest it’s been since May 4 when there were 21 people in the ICU.

Queensland’s hospitals are filling up with patients sick from Covid.

Mr Bailey provided a brief Covid-19 update this morning saying there was “concern” about the third wave.

“We’re encouraging people where they can’t socially distance to wear a mask again, particularly if you’re in public transport or closed spaces,” he said.

“There is a lot of Covid out there at the moment and we want to knock the top off this third wave as much as we can.”

With students now back from holidays, Mr Bailey said schools were one of the more vulnerable environments with more people gathered in one area.

“There’s no advice to mandate it (mask wearing) at the moment, but there is encouragement,” he said.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the pandemic was a ‘marathon’. Picture by Richard Gosling

When asked about a potential teacher shortage, Mr Bailey said it could be possible.

“I know every industry has been affected by Covid in the workforce so I’d be very surprised if there wasn’t an impact on teachers as well,” he said.

Mr Bailey called the pandemic a “marathon” saying it was understandable that people were “fatigued” and wanted it to be over.

“We’re not just out of it yet, we’ve got that little bit to go,” he said.