Queensland records 4249 new Covid cases, man aged in his 30s dies at Gold Coast home

Queensland has recorded 4249 new Covid cases overnight while a man aged in his late 30s has died in his home in “very unusual circumstances”.

Queensland has recorded 4249 new Covid cases while a man aged in his late 30s has died suddenly in his home.

Meanwhile, chief health officer Dr John Gerrard has warned all Queenslanders would be exposed to Covid within weeks.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk passed on her condolences to the family of the man who had died, adding the death would be reported to the Coroner.

“This goes to shows this pandemic can have very serious consequences,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Think very carefully about where you’re going.

“We will get through this together if everyone does the right thing.”

Dr Gerrard said the man died from “probable” Covid-19 in his home on the Gold Coast.

Dr Gerrard described the fatality as “very unusual” because of how young the man was.

He suggested it was likely the man contracted the virus in Queensland.

“All I would say very strongly is that it’s very, very unusual for a young man to die suddenly from Covid-19,” Dr Gerrard said.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard. Picture: Tara Croser.

“It’s a very unusual circumstance.

“So it needs further investigation of exactly what has happened here.

“The vast, vast majority of people with Covid-19, particularly young people, have mild illness, particularly if they are vaccinated.

“I do believe this individual was vaccinated … so the circumstances are very unusual.”

The chief health officer said the man’s diagnosis was only based on a rapid antigen test.

Dr Gerrard said Queenslanders should expect a “very large” number of cases as the state reaches its peak, but suggested the vast majority of cases would experience mild symptoms.

“All of us are going to be exposed in the next few weeks,” he said.

Dr Gerrard warned two doses was unlikely to protect people from contracting the virus, which was why it was crucial for Queenslanders to get their booster shot.

“It clearly is protective,” he said of the booster.

There are now 10 Covid patients in ICU, including one on a ventilator, while 147 people are in hospital.

A total of 90.67 per cent of Queenslanders have had their first vaccine dose while 86.6 per cent are fully vaccinated.

The state now has 20,239 active cases.

On Palm Island, a single case has been recorded overnight – with additional support to be provided to the community.

“But we know this strain is particularly contagious,” Dr Gerrard said.

Meanwhile, there are now about 90 cases in Cherbourg – with most patients in their 20s and 30s. Cases have also been detected at Flinders and Charters Towers.

Ms Palaszczuk said the state was tracking towards a peak in late January or early February.

She said the state government had secured 18 million rapid antigen tests which will be provided for free from public testing sites.

Ms Palaszczuk said pharmacies were expecting more rapid antigen tests to arrive in the Sunshine State soon.

She said she expected concessions to be made to people on health care cards and pensions, so that they can afford the rapid antigen tests.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Jerad Williams

Police intercepted more than 27,000 vehicles at the road border yesterday, turning around 126. About 240 masks were handed out by police.

It comes after Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate sought clarification from Queensland’s chief health officer over Omicron – asking if it is any more infectious or life threatening than the common flu.

“In 2019, our state lost five people a week from the flu yet there were no public health restrictions or border closures,” Cr Tate said.

“I accept that we have very high vaccination rates today against Covid but we also had high annual flu vaccination rates in 2019.

“My questions, which I addressed in a letter to the CHO last week, simply ask for comparisons between Delta, Omicron and the common flu.

“I respect the CHO and await his response.”

Cr Tate said he had asked Dr Gerrard four key questions:

- Can you advise the daily diagnosis rates on the Gold Coast for Omicron v Delta Covid-19 strains from Monday 20 December 2021 to current date?

- How many persons are currently hospitalised on the Gold Coast with the Omicron strain of Covid-19?

- Of those hospitalised with Omicron on the Gold Coast, what percentage are currently receiving treatment in ICU?

- Can you advise the number of influenza deaths in QLD for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 as a percentage of the total number of influenza diagnoses in the State?

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“I know that in 2019, five Queenslanders a week were dying from the flu,” the Mayor said.

“The year’s total was 264 yet that year, we did not lockdown borders, shut businesses, close international borders, isolate families, suspend schooling and ban music and sporting events.

“To date, I believe around eight Queensland deaths have been reported as Covid related. Some of these people had underlying health issues at the time and while one death is one too many, it does raise the question: how virulent and dangerous is Omicron when compared to the common flu?

“Of course, today we have very high vaccination rates against Covid but millions of Queenslanders also had their annual flu vaccinations in 2019, yet five people a week died.

“With that in mind, I believe my questions are valid.

“I am not asking these questions to cause undue concern but I know the same questions are being asked by thousands of other Gold Coasters right now.’’

Cr Tate said Gold Coast residents were asking if Covid rules were a ‘political control game’.

“I don’t want to erode confidence in our state government so the idea is to ask the questions (of Dr Gerrard) and get the answers out there so that the trust remains,” he said.

“Once we lose the trust in the state government, that’s when people just do their own thing and won’t listen. That’s my reason behind this.

“I’m not a medical person, that’s why I’m asking for the data, so all of us can understand.”

Responding to Cr Tate, Dr Gerrard said it wasn’t “totally illegitimate” to question how the current pandemic compared to an influenza epidemic.

He said the numbers of Omicron infections would be far higher than what would be seen during an influenza outbreak, which “has a huge impact on the hospitals”.

Covid was also more severe than influenza, with more vaccinated people getting sick with Covid than would be expected for influenza.

He said authorities needed more time to fully assess the science behind the new variant.

“Most of it is pretty good news, most of it,” he said.

“But the big problem is the sheer volume of people that are going to get the virus, that’s where the big problem will arise.

“All of us are going to be exposed in the next few weeks and even if you’ve had just the two doses of the vaccine, that probably isn’t enough to stop you from getting infected even if you have only mild symptoms.”