Qld Covid-19: Warning over reinfections as hospitalisations rise

Covid-19 hospitalisations continue to rise in Queensland even as the number of active cases drop slightly, with experts warning of the possible serious health implications of reinfection.

The latest Covid-19 data from the state government shows there are 24 less Covid cases in Queensland this week than last week but hospitalisations have risen.

Experts are tentative to confirm the state has hit the peak of the Covid wave but early indicators show a positive outlook.

“It’s a normal trend that when numbers fall, hospitalisations can stay firm. There is usually a lag in the reduction of serious cases,” infectious disease expert Dr Paul Griffin told The Courier-Mail.

“What we need to remember though it that we don’t have a complete picture of what is going on with the virus as the testing rate is so low. We will never return to zero but let’s hope we are on a downward slide,” Dr Griffin said.

From November 17 to November 23, Queensland recorded 10,082 new Covid cases.

In the same period there were 14 deaths.

At midnight on Wednesday 312 people were receiving hospital care in both public and private hospitals and eight of those were in intensive care.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard says case numbers are no longer increasing rapidly. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Last week there were 10,106 cases, up 5828 from the previous week. There were 15 deaths and 245 people in hospital with five in intensive care.

The infectious disease expert warns that it is not time to drop the ball on self-protection as Queenslanders can get repeated infections and the cumulative impact of multiple doses can wear down the body.

Medical research has found that repeated infections can take a toll on important organs.

A study in the journal Nature Medicine has reported that people who had Covid more than once were three times more likely to end up in hospital and two times more likely to die than a person who had been diagnosed only once.

“Don’t drop the ball, take all the necessary hygiene protections and keep up with vaccinations. We won’t see Covid go away for ever, another wave will come,” Dr Griffin said.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said current data showed case numbers were no longer rapidly increasing but it was not a reason to become complacent.

“The number of active cases increased 73 per cent between 9 and 16 November but by only eight percent the following week, consistent with the national trend,” Dr Gerrard said.

“ While the number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 increased from 245 on 16 this is significantly lower than in previous waves and we expect this number to fall in coming weeks.”