Qld Covid-19: Cruise ship outbreak as 782 treated in state hospitals

Authorities have confirmed an outbreak of Covid-19 on a cruise ship docked in Brisbane as parents are urged to keep their children home from school if they are unwell.

Queenslanders have been warned Covid-19 is “everywhere” with elderly people urged to don masks in crowded spaces amid another surge of the pandemic.

Authorities on Monday confirmed 782 people were being treated in Queensland’s hospitals for Covid-19, on top of the 104 patients currently admitted for the flu.

The health system is under significant pressure, with 2337 staff off sick or isolating due to infection.

And Health Minister Yvette D’Ath confirmed there was now a Covid-19 outbreak on the Coral Princess cruise ship, which is currently docked in Brisbane.

“The virus is everywhere and there’s no escaping that,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve had Covid-19, you can absolutely get it again and what we do know about BA.4 and BA.5 – the new sub-variants of Omicron – is that we are seeing reinfection and that can happen quite quickly.”

Authorities have confirmed a Covid-19 outbreak on the Coral Princess cruise ship now docked in Brisbane.

Ms D’Ath said Covid-19 was “widespread” in the community and amid the return of school parents were being urged to keep kids home if they were unwell to prevent spread.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged older Queenslanders to urgently get their fourth booster jab if they are able, noting 91 per cent of all deaths in the state with Covid-19 were people aged 65 or older.

“If you’re 65 and over, seriously, okay. Get that full dose, but also to strongly encourage you if you’re in that age bracket, seniors in our community to think about wearing masks in crowded spaces.”

Ms Palaszczuk urged everyone who was now eligible for their fourth dose to go out and get it, confirming she would be booking an appointment for herself sometime this week to send a message.

In relation to the Coral Princess, Ms D’Ath said anyone due to embark in Brisbane today have been informed of the outbreak and can make “personal decisions as to whether they want to go on board or not”.

“There were protocols put in place as to what would occur if there was an outbreak (and) we are seeing an outbreak,” she said.

“Some of those the passengers are being removed.

“They have chosen to isolate either home or in other accommodation. And we’ve supported them in doing that.”

The Coral Princess docked in Port Douglas on Thursday, carrying more than 2600 passengers and crew.

Ms Palaszczuk and Ms D’Ath were speaking on the Gold Coast, where they were turning the sod on the Tugun satellite hospital – the fourth of seven satellite hospitals to begin construction.

The hospital is set to open in 2023 and provide services including renal dialysis, pathology, ultrasound, medical allied health and maternity services.