Covid Qld: How Omicron will speed Qld’s transition to Covid-normal

The state’s top doctor says Omicron is the Covid-19 variant we had to have, and it will make coronavirus endemic in Queensland.

The state’s top doctor has declared Covid-19 will have to be widespread for it to shift from pandemic to endemic within Queensland, as the Sunshine State’s case numbers surge by hundreds.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard revealed yesterday there were early signs the Omicron variant was milder than previous Covid-19 strains.

And his NSW counterpart, Kerry Chant, also indicated that the risk of hospitalisation for those infected with the Omicron variant was about 60 to 80 per cent less than the Delta strain.

Queensland broke its daily Covid-19 record once again yesterday after 369 people tested positive to the virus – almost double the number of the day before.

Dr Gerrard said the Omicron variant was becoming dominant in the Sunshine State, describing it as much more contagious than previous strains.

“The early information we’re getting is it seems to be a little milder and certainly the vaccine is protective,” he said.

The CHO also suggested that the spread of the virus was not only inevitable but also necessary.

“In order for us to go from the pandemic phase to an endemic phase, the virus has to be widespread,” Dr Gerrard said.

“You will all have to develop immunity and there’s two ways you can do that – by being vaccinated or getting infected.

“And once we’ve done that, once the virus is spreading, once we all have some degree of immunity, the virus becomes endemic – and that is what is going to happen.”

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard this week. Picture: John Gass

Queensland now has 807 active Covid-19 cases, with the virus reaching smaller communities beyond the southeast, such as the Banana Shire and Maranoa.

Only one person is being treated in hospital because of the virus. They are currently in intensive care but are not on a ventilator.

Another 92 people with the virus are also in hospital – but for other reasons, such as to isolate.

Health officials have confirmed there are at least 123 Omicron cases in Queensland, but a lag in testing results means more of the state’s 807 active cases could also have the emerging variant.

In NSW, Dr Chant said about 80 per cent of their state’s cases were of the Omicron variant, which “largely explains the steep rise in cases”.

“Pulling together multiple pieces of evidence from overseas countries such as South Africa and the UK and using some of our own emerging data indicates that infection with Omicron is likely to be milder than infection with Delta, with the risk of hospitalisation being around 60 to 80 per cent less than for Delta,” she said

“But the issue is the increased transmissibility, leading to high case numbers and the impact it’s having on vulnerable settings, vulnerable people and critical workforces, such as our health and aged care workforce.”

NSW recorded 5715 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, while Victoria recorded another 2005 as both states introduced new mask mandates.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke at the Gold Coast, where she urged locals to take up the vaccine, with the region’s vaccination rate sitting at 88.8 per cent.

“Across the southeast of our state, essentially every area is above 90 per cent except the Gold Coast region,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“There are thousands of people coming here (the Gold Coast) from NSW and from Victoria where the virus is rampant.

“And the Gold Coast is exposed because people are not vaccinated.”

More than 13,000 Covid-19 vaccinations were administered by Queensland Health on Wednesday – over half of them third doses.

Meanwhile, a massive 33,761 Covid-19 tests were carried out over the same period.

Infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin said rising case numbers should be expected to continue for some time.

“When the peak occurs and how high it is will be very much dependent on what we do to control the spread,” he said.

“While we have to become accustomed to having this virus in our community … we certainly don’t want to just become complacent or adopt a let it rip strategy.

“We do have a lot of really good tools we can and should use.”

Dr Gerrard on Thursday said Queensland’s current mask rules were in place to slow down the virus to enable people to get their third Covid-19 vaccine shot.