Qld Covid-19: Mask up, kiss less, keep testing this Christmas

Queensland’s fourth Covid wave has been tipped to peak this weekend, but experts have warned against complacency amid a possible ‘artificial’ drop in case numbers. This is what you should do to stay safe.

Experts have urged Queenslanders to mask up, kiss less and keep Covid testing this Christmas as the state faces the prospect of festive gatherings becoming superspreader events.

The state recorded 16,600 new cases over the seven days leading up to Tuesday, but infections are expected to climb significantly due to superspreader Christmas events.

Infectious disease experts Dr Paul Griffin and Dr Robert Booy said it remained critically important for Queenslanders to keep testing and stay at home if symptomatic.

“This is a big issue for us at the moment. We’ll see our (case) numbers fall this week and people will say we’re past the peak but a lot of people won’t want to test and declare this week prior to any parties or events,” Dr Griffin said.

“There was talk about the case peak being on December 17 and now it’s going to be this Friday but we don't actually know for sure and there's a lot of factors that impact those numbers – like testing rates.

Professor Robert Booy.

Dr Paul Griffin

“Current numbers may reflect an artificial decrease which may rebound after Christmas so we shouldn’t pat ourselves on the back just yet.”

Dr Booy said those visiting vulnerable people or relatives in aged care facilities over the Christmas break should absolutely take a Rapid Antigen Test beforehand.

“If you’re going to see your grandmother in a nursing home, you’ll find it's still a reasonable thing to do a RAT because you are potentially transferring viruses in the one to two days before you even get symptoms,” Dr Booy said.

“A hell of a lot of people are getting sick at the moment … we’re having superspreader events every day whether it’s the cricket, a concert, the shopping centre, they’re all superspreader events.

“It’s pretty obvious that if you’ve got symptoms, a sore throat, a cough, or runny nose, you should stay home and not mix with other people.

“Get someone else to do your shopping for you.”

Those hosting festive celebrations were advised to hold them outdoors, while people attending parties should avoid kissing multiple partners.

“By all means have your party but don't involve people who could be symptomatic,” Dr Booy said.

“Make the parties smaller, shorter and outside because the ventilation of it being outside massively reduces the risk

“For teenagers, if you’ve got a boyfriend or girlfriend, that's great, but don‘t have multiple partners because that’s a fast way to increase all sorts of disease

People have been urged to wear a mask at gatherings, or even get other people to go shopping for them if they are feeling unwell. File picture

“It’s easy to do at school parties, office parties or street parties, people have too much to drink but they should avoid intimate oral contact, snogging as the English call it.”

Mask wearing is still highly recommended when taking public transport, during flights and when in tight, enclosed spaces with limited social distancing.

Those who do contract the virus were urged to seek antiviral medications, although Dr Booy said this may prove difficult due to holiday doctor closures.

“I’ve got a 70-plus friend I saw last week and he just tested positive and couldn’t get access to antivirals,” Dr Booy said.

“This guy’s general practitioner was not available, the online GP didn’t call back until midnight and didn’t issue a script so he’s now lost 24 hours before getting to see his usual doctor.

“We need better access for ordinary people who don’t have medical connections.”

Last week 33 Covid-positive Queenslanders died while 515 were hospitalised, eight requiring intensive care.

Queensland has so far recorded 1,729,903 Covid infections during the pandemic.