Almost 200 people dead in just four weeks across the state from Covid-19

The state’s Covid-19 death rate continues to hit the hundreds each month as Queensland gears up to remove mandatory isolation on Friday and experts warn our next outbreak is imminent.

Almost 200 people have died with Covid-19 over the past four weeks in Queensland as experts warn further outbreaks could be imminent with rising case numbers overseas.

For the past month, the state has reverted to weekly Covid-19 reporting, last week in total there were 14 deaths, which was down significantly from the week prior when 77 people died with the virus.

In comparison to previous months, September’s death rate has fluctuated week-to-week, however it’s reduced across the board from the month prior.

Infectious diseases expert Associate Professor Paul Griffin. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

August’s death rate was one of the highest the state has seen with just shy of 400 people dying in the month following the early peak of the Omicron wave.

It comes as mandatory Covid-19 isolation will end across the country this Friday.

Infectious diseases expert Associate Professor Dr Paul Griffin warned another wave could be imminent, based on current outbreaks in Europe.

“What’s clear is we’re starting to see cases start to climb in other countries. There’s not a single sub-variant that’s taking over, it’s a bit of a mix,” he said.

“That probably does mean that we’re not too far behind. We have to remember that what happens in the other parts of the world is more relevant to us now more than ever because previously we had restrictions on who could travel into the country and we’re all starting to travel again.”

Since weekly updates started at the start of September, the number of people in intensive care has consistently dropped.

In the week to September 13 there were nine people in ICU, then seven the next week and five people the week following.

Last week, that number dropped to just two people in ICU due to the virus.

It comes as the state prepares to drop the isolation rules for Covid-19-positive people this Friday following a Commonwealth decision.

Dr Griffin said he didn’t believe the rule change would make a big difference in transmission across the state.

“Without those rules we’ll just have to do an even better job in communicating how important it is to still take those extra measures like masks and social distancing,” he said.

“The pandemic is not over and I think that’s the biggest risk with some of these changes is people also see that as an indication that the virus is done and the pandemic is over when that’s clearly not the case.”

While Dr Griffin said getting the jab was still vital protection, he was unsure how health authorities would move forward with the vaccine rollout.

Mandatory Covid-19 isolation will end across Australia this Friday.

“We don’t know how we’re going to recommend boosters going forward. The situation will largely tell us when we need to boost people,” he said.

“We don’t know if it will be yearly or what, but we do know that protection isn’t going to be lifelong and the virus hasn’t gone away so further boosters will be required. But which vaccine it is and when that will be still remains to be determined.”

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