Queensland records 8508 new Covid cases and 21 deaths on deadliest day of the pandemic

Queensland has recorded 8508 new Covid cases and 21 deaths in the past 24 hours, making it the state’s deadliest day of the pandemic.

Queensland has recorded 21 deaths and 8508 new Covid cases in the past 24 hours, Deputy Premier Steven Miles has announced.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said it was the deadliest day of the pandemic.

Of the deaths, two people were aged in their 60s, four in their 70s, 11 in their 80 and four in their 90s.

Dr Gerrard said four of these people were not vaccinated, two had received a single dose of vaccine, 13 had received two doses and only two had received a booster.

Seven of the 21 were aged care residents.

Dr Gerrard said “it distresses me every day” to report older people dying without having received a booster.

Mr Miles said it was the final opportunity for students to get vaccinated.

There are 49639 active cases.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Richard Walker

Dr Gerrard said there were stories about older people making appointments for a month from now.

“There is no need to wait to get a booster,” he said.

More than 90 per cent of people who have died during this Covid wave had not received a booster.

There are 727 people in hospital, a gradual decline from yesterday.

Dr Gerrard said the rate of transmission was decreasing, showing the peak had passed.

“The virus is absolutely everywhere in Queensland,” he said.

“There is no way you can avoid being exposed to this virus.”

Dr Gerrard said about 150-200 people were being admitted to hospital every day.

The CHO said there is currently no process by which Queensland Health can get information from the aged care facilities.

“We need to sort this issue out because it is very concerning.”

Dr Gerrard said there are plenty of places where people can get their loved ones boosted “outside of aged care facilities.”

He said 134 people have died in aged care facilities in Queensland.

“The main thing is for people in aged care facilities to get the booster – that’s the solution.”

Dr Gerrard said most areas were past their period of peak transmission, with possibly only Cairns and remote areas yet to reach their peak.

Mr Miles said more than a thousand aged care facilities were dealing with outbreaks.

“About half of our deaths have been in aged care facilities and most of those people had not received their booster – there really is no excuse.”

In response to the Jeta Gardens crisis, Mr Miles said “I think it is just one example of what is happening in Australia under this Prime Minister’s watch.”

Regarding school returning on Monday, Dr Gerrard said the immune system of a child was “very different” to someone over the age of 60.

“The immune system of children is able to recognise new viruses.”

It comes after 13 deaths of 6857 new Covid cases were recorded on Friday.

Nine of those deaths occurred in aged care which Mr Miles labelled “nothing short of a national disgrace”.