Health Minister says elective surgery restrictions on track to be lifted as Qld records 4114 new cases, six deaths

Queensland has recorded 4114 new Covid cases overnight and sadly, six residents have died. It comes as Health Minister Yvette D’Ath revealed one of the key restrictions that will likely be lifted at the end of the month.

Queensland has recorded six deaths and 4114 new Covid cases overnight as Health Minister Yvette D’Ath gave the first hint of which restrictions will be lifted at the end of the month.

Ms D’Ath said there are 384 people in public hospitals and 17 in private hospitals, with 34 people in ICU.

She said there were 2558 positive rapid antigen tests recorded overnight and 1360 children between the ages of 5 and 17 tested positive, a slight drop from yesterday’s number.

Of the six deaths, two were in their sixties, one was in their seventies and three were in their eighties.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said of the six people who died, one was unvaccinated, four had received two doses and one had a booster.

One resident who died was in aged care, bringing the total deaths in the state’s aged care system to 241.

There are 384 people in public hospitals, slightly higher since Sunday due to discharge practices.

“I’m not concerned about that,” he said.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath and Chief Health Officer John Gerrard. Picture: Tara Croser

Ms D’Ath said discussions would continue about lifting restrictions over the next week.

She said the removal of restrictions in southern states had already occurred in Queensland.

“Victoria and NSW restrictions that they’re lifting really bring them into line into where we have been over December and January,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said “things are looking on track” to lift a suspension on elective surgery at the end of the month.

“It will probably be phased in,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said she still had concerns about the low vaccination rates of children.

She said 12 to 15 year olds are “still sitting” at 76.88 per cent first dose and 70.38 per cent double dose.

“I am pleased that over the last couple of days we have reached over 200,000 5 to 11 year olds - we are sitting at 201,462 children but of course we need that to be over 400,000.

“We are not even at the halfway mark of our 5-11 year olds being vaccinated against Covid.”

There are 63.1 per cent of people with a booster.

“What we know is people are still coming out to get their booster which is great - but we’re not seeing the vaccination rates in our young people that we should,” she said.

She said about 1000 health workers were now off work as a result of Covid, significantly lower than previously.

Ms D’Ath said the states were again “pleading” with the Commonwealth to acknowledge Covid was not over.

“We are going to continue to have Covid patients in our hospitals for some time to come,” she said.

She said the Commonwealth should maintain changes to health funding introduced in response to Covid-19 and called for “long-term reforms” to ease pressure on the system.

“We’re going to need a lot of support to deal with the backlog of elective surgery that we’re going to have,” she said.

It comes as the state recorded two Covid-related deaths and 4265 new cases on Sunday as the state battles through the end of the Omicron wave.

Despite the continued fall in case numbers, Dr Gerrard says Queensland must remain vigilant heading into winter and ATAGI will need to consider whether people require a fourth vaccine.

Dr Gerrard has confirmed he is reviewing Queensland’s restrictions ahead of possible changes at the end of the month.