Covid Qld: Premier’s shock as six deaths, 14k cases confirmed in deadliest day of pandemic

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed her “shock” as Queensland has recorded 14,914 new cases and six deaths, marking its deadliest day of the pandemic so far. It comes as all land border barriers are set to come down.

The Premier has revealed her “shock” as Queensland records 14,914 new cases and six deaths, marking its deadliest day of the pandemic so far.

It comes as she confirmed the land border barriers put in place by the state government will finally come down this weekend.

There are 26 patients in intensive care at the moment – 10 on ventilators – with more than 500 patients in hospital.

The six people who died were aged between their 70s and 90s.

“To lose six in one day is a big shock,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, adding it was “a very, very sad day” for Queensland and expressed sympathy for families.

“I think this would be a very difficult time for families at the moment,” she said.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard two of the deaths were people in their 70s, three were in their 80s and one in their 90s.

Five of the six were double vaccinated, one was unvaccinated and none had had their booster shot. Three died in residential aged care.

Ms Palaszczuk announced that the road borders would be coming down from 1am on Saturday.

She said this meant anyone coming domestically into Queensland by road or air would not need to show their border pass.

She added that similar would happen for international arrivals, most likely “by the end of next week” when the state officially hit 90 per cent double vaccinated.

CHO Dr John Gerrard. Picture: Liam Kidston

Dr Gerrard said Queensland’s border restrictions have now “done their job” and are no longer required as part of the state’s health response.

“The border restrictions have served their purpose and that was to allow every Queenslander access to the vaccine,” he said.

“Now the virus, as always expected, is spreading through Queensland but with a vaccinated population.

“The job has been done and these borders are no longer required.”

An ‘elated’ police commissioner Katarina Carroll said the removal of the border checkpoints would enable police resources to be reprioritised to focus on the upcoming Covid peak.

“I am elated, I can’t take the smile off my face, it’s been exhausting,” she said.

Ms Carroll said over the past two years, frontline police had intercepted millions of vehicles and passengers, ensuring Queenslanders remained safe during the first phase of the pandemic.

Dr Gerrard said the state will change the way it reports Covid deaths.

“Because of the widespread vaccination in the community and the complex medical conditions it is difficult to work out if an individual patient has died from the virus,” he said.

“From now on we will simply report the deaths and individuals who have had a positive Covid test around the time of their death.”

The Premier revealed that Queensland was set to hit 90 per cent double dose vaccination rate by the end of next week and said all land border barriers are set to come down at the weekend.

“The need is for our domestic borders to be open so that our police can return to the frontline,” she said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The Premier said Rapid Antigen Test supply will be discussed at today’s National Cabinet meeting.

“At the moment the whole world is after rapid antigen tests and our government and the federal government is working to procure them,” she said.

“Everybody is in need of supplies.”

She announced the Queensland Care Army has been activated, with Queenslanders now able to call a 1800 number to access health care from home (1800 173 349).

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath addressed social media posts from the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland incorrectly stating unvaccinated health workers were allowed to return to the workforce.

“I want to make this very clear, that is not correct,” she said.

“We’re not planning nor are we welcoming back unvaccinated workers into the health system.

She said only unvaccinated staff who have been granted an exemption will be allowed to return to hospitals but they will not be allowed to work in clinical settings.

There were 33,849 tests performed, and 795,000 booster shots delivered in the past 24 hours, with 91.33 per cent of Queenslanders aged 16 and above having received one dose of the vaccine, while 88.18 per cent are fully vaccinated.

It comes as industry leaders warn even more businesses will have to shut up shop in the coming weeks, with half the state’s businesses already facing significant constraints on the availability of staff.

Meanwhile, police say they want to be pulled off from Queensland-NSW border duty immediately and return to normal policing duties given Covid is now running rampant across the Gold Coast.