Queensland records ‘significant fall’ in Covid hospitalisations after 11,600 new cases, 15 deaths

The chief health officer says he is becoming increasingly optimistic that the Omicron wave will not be as bad as expected. It comes after 11,600 new Covid cases in Queensland and 15 deaths.

Queensland has recorded 11,600 new Covid cases, while 15 people have died, with chief health officer Dr John Gerrard saying he was becoming increasingly as the Omicron wave peaked.

Dr Gerrard said that of the people who had died there were two people in their 60s, nine in their 80s and four in their 90s.

Four were unvaccinated, four had received one dose, five had received two doses and two had received a booster.

Dr Gerrard said that there are now only 829 people in state public hospitals which was a “significant fall” from previous weeks.

“Most of that fall has been on the Gold Coast as expected. Gold Coast had its peak and it’s on its way down,” Dr Gerrard said.

Dr Gerrard said he was definitely becoming more optimistic as days go by.

“I don’t want to jump the gun … but certainly what we’re seeing is very positive here,” he said.

He credited widescale vaccination for the reason why the state was tracking so well.

There are now more than 69,000 active cases in the state while 48 people are in intensive care with 15 on ventilators.

As the state passes the peak, Dr Gerrard said that the government would review current measures and evaluate the plan going forward.

He said that Brisbane and other parts of South East Queensland hadn’t yet reached their peak.

Dr Gerrard said that this year was a very different pandemic than 2020 with hospitalisations and severity of the illness reducing.

“I have a feeling that this tail will go on for sometime. I don’t think it will be as simple as the flu,” he said.

Dr Gerrard said the virus would continue to mutate for years to come.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms D’Ath said officials were seeing a decline in hospitalisations in Gold Coast hospitals and a stabilisation in Brisbane and Ipswich hospitals.

Queensland is still just shy of the 90 per cent double vaccination rate, with the Minister calling on more people to come forward.

There are now more than 141,000 five to 11-year-olds who have received the jab ahead of school returning next month.

Ms D’Ath said Queensland Health hadn’t yet brought back any positive, asymptotic workers yet under the controversial directive.

She said the criteria included these workers returning to work if they were vaccinated and asymptomatic when needed.

“That is in the highest level, most extreme circumstances,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said she didn’t want people to be complacent but she felt as though the trends were showing that Gold Coast had passed its peak.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms D’Ath reiterated that Covid was still putting pressure on the state’s health systems.

“Covid has absolutely put a demand on our system, which is on top of our existing demand,” she said.

She said the government had been talking with the Commonwealth on how to reform the system.

Ms D’Ath said that the back to school plan should be announced soon by Education Minister Grace Grace before school starts.

“I think parents can be very comfortable knowing the kids can come back to school and we’ll have everything in place to ensure that,” she said.

Queensland has recorded more than 350,000 cases of Covid-19 and 131 deaths from the virus since borders opened in mid-December.