Revealed: How Omicron peaks will unfold across Qld

Omicron will peak at different stages across Queensland with the chief health officer today updating which region would peak next after the Gold Coast, which is now past the worst of the wave.

There will be staggered peaks of Covid-19 cases across Queensland with authorities revealing hospitalisations were so far lower than expected.

Cases in Townsville are expected to accelerate with the city to approach its peak in two weeks time.

This is compared to the Gold Coast where chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said had likely just passed its peak while Cairns was hitting it now and in coming days.

Brisbane cases will continue to rise over the next seven days before they’re expected to peak and then steadily fall.

CHO Dr John Gerrard says the peak will be staggered across Queensland. Photo: Liam Kidston

“Queensland is a little different to other states in so far as we are a little more dispersed, so it (the peak) will happen at different rates and different places,” Dr Gerrard said.

“So Townsville will be delayed by, probably, a couple of weeks, compared to say the Gold Coast.

“But not by that much, it is surprising how quickly this virus does spread.

“So the Gold Coast is probably going through its peak now or probably just past its peak, we’d expect Brisbane to be going through its peak next week and probably Townsville the following week, it is that sort of rate of progression.

“Cairns interestingly is a little bit earlier, approaching a peak now or the next few days.

“So it is different in different regions.”

Dr Gerrard said there would be strain and stress on individual hospitals as cases increased.

“But the peak appears to be slightly less in most areas - it won’t necessarily be the same everywhere - than we had planned for,” he said.

“The hospitals are coping well at this stage.”

He said the peak appears to be ‘slightly less’ than anticipated.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said hospitalisations were lower than what had been expected.

‘In heartening news, the track for demand of beds is not as high as we were expecting,” she said.

“In some good news the fact that our hospitals are going to be reaching ... peaks at different times should give Queenslanders a bit more comfort as well.

“It’s not everything happening all at once.”

It came as Queensland today recorded 11 more deaths and 9,546 new cases.