Health Minister Yvette D’Ath pleads with Queenslanders to get vaccinated

Some hospitals have started to suspend services as the latest Covid wave wreaks havoc on health staff, while Queenslanders aged over 65 have been issued a grim warning over the new Omicron subvariants.

Some hospitals have started to move towards suspending services as the latest Covid wave decimates the state’s health workforce.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said there were currently 697 people being treated for Covid in public and private hospitals, while a massive 7.6 per cent of Queensland Health staff are currently off work because they’re unwell.

Ms D’Ath said Gold Coast University Hospital had overnight moved to “tier three”, which would see the suspension of lower-category planned care.

“It’s at this stage being dealt with at a local level by hospital and health services, and individual hospitals,” she said.

“That would be based on the number of staff they have unavailable and the number of patients they have.”

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath is urging residents to get vaccinated. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms D’Ath said across the Metro North Hospital and Health Service, there are 151 Covid patients and another 22 patients with influenza.

“Obviously that’s going to put pressure on that hospital system,” she said.

Ms D’Ath pleaded with people to get their vaccinations – particularly those aged over 65.

She said new data showed people aged over 65 who had not received their fourth booster were four times more likely to get the new BA.4 and 5 Omicron variants.

“That’s a pretty good incentive to go out and get your fourth booster,” she said.

The Minister said two jabs wasn’t enough when it came to the Omicron and its sub-variants.

“There’s no reason why our third dose and our fourth dose should not be at those same levels of over 94 per cent,” she said.

“Please come out and get your vaccination now.”

Ms D’Ath urged vulnerable Queenslanders or those who find themselves in high-risk settings to consider wearing a mask.

“If you are particularly vulnerable or you’re in settings where you believe you’re at higher risk … then pull out those masks that we all have now,” she said.

And she urged people to keep using hand sanitiser and to wash their hands.

“Please take advantage of these measures that we know make a difference,” she said.

Queensland recorded 5980 new cases on Thursday and 17 deaths.

There are 15 people being treated in ICU.

Queenslanders were this week warned to brace for the state’s worst ever Covid-19 wave with chief health officer John Gerrard revealing the latest sub-variant was evading immunity built up in the vaccinated and those who have already caught the virus.

Hospitalisations could reach 1000 in coming weeks as the state’s third wave peaks.