‘Wall of immunity’: Qld’s new weapon against Covid as 5k cases, 8 deaths recorded

Queensland has recorded another 5854 new Covid cases and eight deaths but the population now has a ‘wall of immunity’ that may help end the worst of the pandemic, says the CHO.

Queensland has recorded another 5854 new Covid cases overnight and eight deaths but the chief health officer says the population has built up a ‘wall of immunity’ which could help ensure the worst of the pandemic was behind us.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed that two of the people who died were in aged care.

There are now 579 people being treated in hospital, which is a reduction from yesterday with 46 people in ICU.

Ms Palaszczuk warned the peak would still continue though until about the end of this month and released new modelling that she said suggests Queensland’s hospitalisations have peaked and are going down with the tail end of cases still expected in March.

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COVID-19 Update: The Premier is speaking in Brisbane. #covid19https://t.co/vC8qS3InzP

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) February 10, 2022

In releasing a breakdown of how regions peaked, she said the Gold Coast, metro North, and West Moreton were well past their peak while Metro South, Sunshine Coast and Cairns had just passed the peak.

Townsville, Wide Bay and Torres Cape are just approaching the peak while Darling Downs and central Queensland are yet to peak.

She said at a worst-case scenario, Queensland had been bracing for as many as 5000 beds to be used for Covid patients - which is well above the actual peak that was experienced.

“It means that our precautions and planning are working,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk released new modelling. Photo: Dan Peled

Chief health officer John Gerrard said he expected up to half of the state’s population would have been infected by the end of February and residents had established a ‘wall of immunity’ through vaccinations, boosters and infection which would help see them through further waves.

He said the winter months will be critical, stressing “we don’t know” how further variants will play out and again urged the population to get vaccinated and boosted.

“What we are seeing is the establishment of a wall of immunity, and we are seeing immunity through vaccination, boostering and through natural infection and those three arms are creating a wall of immunity in the Queensland community,” he said.

However, he said the ‘unknown’ was what will happen going forward because the world had experienced Omicron simultaneously and Australia would be the first to go into winter with the strain prevalent.

“We don’t know whether the amount of immunity we’ve established through natural infection and vaccination is enough to protect us from another wave ... and if there is another wave, how big that will be,” he said.

“It’s very clear the virus is not going to go away.

“It will circulate ... and it will find you.”

He said of the eight people who died, three of them were unvaccinated - while only one had received a booster.

He said hospitalisations were falling rapidly.

There are now 46 people in intensive care in public hospitals, including 22 people who are ventilated while 231 children returned a positive PCR test.

The Premier said masks remain critical to protecting workers who work in service industries such as pubs and cafes following authorities removing the need to check-in when visiting public venues.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard says Queensland has built a ‘wall of immunity’. Photo: Dan Peled

Ms Palaszczuk acknowledged the situation in aged care would be “very distressing” for families, appearing to blame the federal government for not ensuring the elderly population had received their booster shots.

“We need the facts on the table,” she said, in regards to the number of aged care residents being vaccinated with their third doses.

She said she will be asking the Prime Minister for clarification at national cabinet later today.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said she was pleased with the latest data and modelling, as well as the reduction in hospitalisations.

“We are seeing most or many hospitals down to one or two (Covid) wards now,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said the data showed that vaccinations worked.

She urged parents to bring forward their 5 to 11-year-olds to get vaccinated.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk provided a Covid update as Queenslanders sweat on if immunisation advisory body ATAGI will provide advice to change the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ to include a third dose.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was happy with the current double dose definition but it would be up to the Federal Government if Australia will follow the advice amid concerns it could wipe out Australia’s international tourism industry.

Queensland will miss out on up to 99 per cent of some of its biggest pre-pandemic tourist markets if it demands international arrivals to be triple-vaccinated.

It comes as Queensland recorded its deadliest day during the Covid-19 pandemic on Wednesday with 24 people losing their lives.

Another 6902 new cases were reported and 534 children tested positive on PCR results with authorities watching school outbreaks closely.