Covid Qld: Masks, RATs, hospital admissions up amid fourth wave

Covid cases have exploded to more than 7000 overnight as Queensland’s fourth wave attacks the state’s most vulnerable like never before.

Queensland’s most vulnerable are under threat from the state’s fourth Omicron wave as the number of active cases spiked today to 7130, up from 4438 last week.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said new data has found the average age of Queenslanders testing positive to the virus had increased with each wave.

He said in the first wave, the average age of Queenslanders catching the virus was 33 years, before climbing to 39 in April wave, 44 in July and now 47.

“Queenslanders catching Covid now are older than they were at the start,” he said.

“It suggests that younger people seem to be more protected.”

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Despite active cases increasing by 61 per cent and hospitalisations by 97 per cent in a week, Dr Gerrard assured Queenslanders the traffic light system wouldn’t cause any disruptions to Christmas travel plans.

“We will not see any lockdowns, travel bans, border closures, nothing like that,” he said.

“It’s very unlikely that we will reintroduce mandates, something extraordinary would have to happen.”

It comes as Queensland’s first day at Covid-19 amber alert saw a high uptake of masks throughout Brisbane, while intensive-care admissions tripled in the past week.

The new strains, XBB and BQ. 1 have become more common in Queensland, with Dr Gerrard saying they were more likely to evade immunity.

Mask mandates in public hospitals and aged care facilities have also been reintroduced while private facilities are able to decide for themselves, Dr Gerrard said.

“I would be very surprised if there were any aged care facilities that don’t have masks in place,” he said.

With the state in the grip of its fourth wave of coronavirus, the latest weekly report also showed hospital admissions nearly doubled in a week, while those in intensive care have surged from three to nine.

On Wednesday there were 202 people in state hospitals with the virus, including nine in intensive care units.

This was up from 105 hospitalisations a week prior, and just three people in the ICU.

Meanwhile, the eligible population has now reached 91.6 per cent fully vaccinated, while the state’s booster rate remains the lowest in the country at just 65.2 per cent.

People in Brisbane seen wearing masks after Queensland raised its alert level to amber following a spike in Covid cases. Picture: Tertius Pickard

There’s been a steady increase in mask wearing across the city, while pharmacies have reported increases in sales of rapid antigen tests as people prepare for the peak.

Meanwhile, large events have been the go-ahead, including RnB Fridayz Live which was expected to draw thousands to the Brisbane Showgrounds on Friday night.

A spokesman said there have been no official changes, however organisers would continue to follow state government guidelines if or when any updates were made.

Hospitals have also started issuing advice to visitors now when entering health facilities, including Children’s Health Queensland, which said visitors would need to wear a mask at all times indoors, and only to be removed when eating or drinking or when socially distanced.

Rapid antigen tests, masks and Covid-19 antiviral sales have spiked in pharmacies in the past week, according to Pharmacy Guild Queensland vice president Amanda Seeto.

“Definitely in the last week we’ve seen an uptick in antiviral medication. My advice would be to call ahead and make sure your pharmacy has stock before heading in,” she said.

“We do our best to meet demand but with these spikes we do have to order more occasionally.”

Almost every pharmacy in the state is stocking the two antiviral options, according to Ms Seeto, who said pharmacies also had the ability to order more every day to avoid shortages.

“It certainly gives people another option that we haven't had in previous waves for treatment,” she said.

“Hopefully it will reduce the number of hospitalisations having that treatment in place.”