Qld Covid: State reports 16,812 new cases and nine deaths, including 18yo with underlying conditions

Queensland’s Covid death toll continues to rise with the building Omicron wave, while the state has also reported another leap in hospitalisations.

Another nine people have died from the coronavirus in Queensland – including an 18-year-old with significant underlying conditions – as the state reports 16,812 new infections.

Thursday’s update revealed Covid hospitalisations in the Sunshine State had risen from 835 to a new high of 850, while there were 48 Covid patients in intensive care, down from 52 in the past 24 hours.

Twenty people are on ventilators.

Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard and Health Minister Yvette D'Ath have revealed another rise in Covid infections and hospitalisations. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

The peak of the Omicron wave is expected to hit the Gold Coast before anywhere else in the state with health minister Yvette D’Ath on Thursday revealing 70 per cent of tests were coming back positive for the region.

There are seven dedicated Covid wards on the Gold Coast dealing with patients.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles also announced the Wellcamp quarantine facility at Toowoomba will soon be up and running, with 500 beds to become available in February to ease pressure on the state’s quarantine system.

State government announced the regional facility last August after striking a deal with the landowner, the Wagner Corporation, with Mr Miles declaring the project “incredible value for money, even as the state prepares to ease international travel rules.

The first 250-bed pod at Wellcamp will be used for travellers who need to quarantine, and the second is for Queenslanders whose accommodation is not suitable for isolation.

Meanwhile, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Joanne Greenfield had been named as the state’s first quarantine commissioner.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles also announced the controversial Wellcamp quarantine facility at Toowoomba is set to activate, with 500 beds available in February. Picture: Richard Walker

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard told reporters in Brisbane that the 18-year-old who died had significant underlying conditions.

They are now the youngest person in Queensland to die with the virus.

The other deaths included one person in their 70s, five in their 80s, one in their 90s and one aged over 100.

Three of the deaths were unvaccinated.

Queensland’s latest daily case numbers were down on Wednesday’s tally of 19,932, and below the record 23,617 a week ago.

There are 91,306 active cases.

The state has now recorded 72 Covid deaths over the entirety of the pandemic, a tally that leapt from seven deaths just two weeks ago as Omicron began flooding across the border.

Thursday’s update follows Wednesday’s announcement that fully vaccinated overseas arrivals will be welcome to fly into the state from 1am on Saturday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the impending arrival of international visitors should not add extra stress to a buckling health system, declaring the move as an act of certainty for businesses and families separated from loved ones.

New arrivals are being asked to do a rapid antigen test within 24 hours as a safety measure, with positive tests urged to isolate or go and see a doctor.

“Like I said, there‘s more virus circulating in Australia at the moment than there would be on a plane load coming in from a different country,” Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.

“I don’t think it will have a big impact on case numbers.”

Elsewhere on Thursday, NSW reported 25 new Covid deaths and Victoria 15.

Originally published as Qld Covid: State reports 16,812 new cases and nine deaths, including 18yo with underlying conditions