Ipswich Covid-19 cases surge to 13,405 as hospitalisations stabilise

Queensland’s top doctor has revealed how he feels about the future of Covid-19, as Ipswich cases soar and hospitalisations begin to change.

Hospitalisations due to Covid-19 have reportedly stabilised in Ipswich, as five wards at Ipswich Hospital are dedicated to virus-positive patients and an existing facility is repurposed into an intensive care unit.

This comes after the city’s hospitals, as well as hospitals in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, were said to be under the most strain of any hospitals in the state.

There were 384 new cases recorded for Ipswich on Thursday morning, bringing the total local cases to 13,405.

The total number of Covid-19 deaths in the West Moreton region has now reached six.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard is optimistic about the future of Covid-19 in Queensland as hospitalisations fall at the Gold Coast and stabilise in Ipswich. Picture: John Gass

Queensland has recorded 11,600 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the state’s total number to 369,897.

Of those Covid-positive people, 829 are currently in hospital and 48 are currently in intensive care.

Fifteen people, including two people in their 60s, nine in their 80s, and four in their 90s, died with Covid-19 overnight.

Four people were unvaccinated, four had received one dose, five had received two doses, and two had received a booster shot.

Just weeks ago, people waited up to six hours outside Ipswich fever clinics to be tested for Covid-19. Picture: Jessica Baker

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said on Thursday that having just 829 people in public hospitals was a “significant fall” from previous weeks.

“I don’t want to jump the gun … but certainly what we’re seeing is very positive here,” he said.

Mr Gerrard said that despite hospitalisations and illness severity decreasing, the virus would continue to mutate for years to come.

“I have a feeling that this tail will go on for sometime. I don’t think it will be as simple as the flu,” he said.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said officials were seeing a hospitalisations stabilise in Ipswich, but there was still significant pressure on health systems.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath reminded people on Thursday not to be complacent. Picture: John Gass

As at January 23, more than 95 per cent of Ipswich residents aged 15 and older have received their first dose of the vaccine and 91.8 per cent have received their second.

More than 420 vaccine doses were administered across West Moreton in the 24 hours to 4pm Wednesday, bringing the total number of doses administered in the region to 143,619.

As for the students returning to school amid the Omicron outbreak, Ms D’Ath said Education Minister Grace Grace will announce a plan shortly.

“I think parents can be very comfortable knowing the kids can come back to school and we’ll have everything in place to ensure that,” she said.