Qld Covid: Case numbers surge to new record 589 on Christmas Eve

Queensland has reported another huge surge in Covid case numbers, prompting a stern warning from police.

Queensland police have fired a broadside at businesses and patrons selfishly flouting venue and mask rules over the Christmas period, warning people can “expect to be challenged” as the Covid caseload surges to new records.

The state recorded 589 new infections on Christmas Eve, a 60 per cent leap on the 369 the day before, and more than triple Wednesday’s figures.

The state government had expected the spread of the Omicron variant to double the caseload every 48 hours, with chief health officer Dr John Gerrard forecasting thousands of cases a day in January.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard says cases are expected to surge into January. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said 32 of the 77 local government areas across Queensland now had the virus.

Testing queues snaked around the block at several metro clinics as people prepared to host Christmas parties.

There are now 1389 active cases in Queensland, although Ms D’Ath said hospitalisations remained low.

Just three people are in Queensland hospitals with mild to moderate symptoms, which Ms D’Ath said was a triumph of the vaccine program.

There are 268 covid patients in home care.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath announced 589 new Covid cases on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

However, police are concerned people are becoming lax on mandatory mask-wearing rules.

Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said officers were still handing out too many masks, with 208 handed out in the past 24 hours and two fines issued.

Masks are mandatory inretail settings and in many indoor spaces.

The Deputy Commissioner also said it was disappointing to see that a Toowoomba venue had been forced to shut down as a result of its protest against covid mandates.

Bar Wunder venue was closed on Thursday afternoon for failing to comply with the public health direction, having already been fined $6892 last weekend when vaccination mandates came into effect.

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“They were given ample opportunities to comply with the current directions and the current rules that are in place, deliberately chose not to made a mockery of the whole system and have have now been closed down,” Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said.

“Any person in any business that does that kind of thing can expect us to take enforcement action in very strict action about that the law is clear.

Dr Gerrard urged people to continue to mask up and book their booster shots in order to ease the strain in the hospital system.

“To reduce the strain on the hospitals … and to give as many people as possible in community the chance to get their booster shots, particularly those who are vulnerable – the elderly and those with underlying immune disorders,” Dr Gerrard said.

Dr Gerrard this week said the spread is “essential” and “necessary” in order for the pandemic to evolve into an endemic phase.

“We all have to have immunity, you will all have to develop immunity and there’s two ways you can do that: by being vaccinated or getting infected,” Dr Gerrard said.

“But the early information we‘re getting is it seems to be a little milder and certainly the vaccine is protective.

“We’re not going to stop it. We’re going to just try and slow it down a little bit to enable people to get those third doses.”

Ms D’Ath on Friday also released a detailed guide that readies people for the eventuality they get Covid, and what they should do when it occurs.

We get ready for storms, now you need to get ready for Covid,” Ms D’Ath said in releasing the Covid Care Pathway toolkit.

Ms D’Ath said this means parents should consider who would care for children if they were forced into hospital, while everyone should think about the supplies they need at home in the event of a positive diagnosis.

Originally published as Qld Covid: Case numbers surge to new record 589 on Christmas Eve