‘Significant fall’ in Covid hospitalisations in Queensland as state records 11,600 cases

Queensland is bracing for the peak of the Omicron wave but one key figure has experienced a “significant fall”.

Queensland has recorded 11,600 new Covid cases and 15 deaths in the past 24 hours with the Omicron peak for Brisbane and Townsville still yet to come.

Health Officer Yvette D’Ath said Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan hospitals are stabilising as the states rates fall to 829 with 48 in ICU and 15 people on ventilators.

“This doesn’t mean the peaks over for Southeast Queensland - we’ll be seeing peaks in the coming week or two as well,” she said.

“What we have seen since Wednesday is a decline each day of the number of patients at the Gold Coast hospital.”

Of the 15 deaths four were unvaccinated, four had received one dose, five were double vaccinated and two had got their booster.

All people who died with Covid were in their 60s and 90s and had multiple health conditions.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath giving a press conference on Covid reports and hospitalisation rates. Picture: Liam Kidston

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said it is difficult to determine if Covid played a role in these deaths.

Queenslanders have registered 3996 rapid antigen tests, a total of 26, 290 including PCR test have been recorded.

More than 51 per cent of Queenslanders have received booster shots. 

While 141,680 five to 11 year olds have been vaccinated and 12 to 15 year olds are still shy of reaching 70 per cent double dose.

Vaccination rates are now at 91 per cent for first dose and 89 per cent second dose.

Dr John Gerrard said most of the southeast is likely to reach its highest number of cases by next week.

“Metropolitan Brisbane, probably Sunshine Coast, West Moreton, Ipswich (will reach their peak) probably sometime in the next seven days,” he said.

Hospital triage Robina Hospital. Picture: Nigel Hallet

Dr Gerrard said Townsville is expected to peak in a fortnight as public hospitals brace for impact.

Residents are urged to remain on high alert.

Queensland has welcomed 795 new medical interns, 60 new paramedics and 28 new communication staff across the state.

The health minister said the announcement came after hundreds and thousands of people moved to Queensland last year.

“We are dealing with the growth in demand for our population,” she said.

“Calling Queensland home means we have to have the health system that can provide state of the art, best practice health care for all Queenslanders.”

Three new hospitals and seven new satellite hospitals will be up and running by 2026, delivering an additional 1056 new beds for Queenslanders.

Originally published as ‘Significant fall’ in Covid hospitalisations in Queensland as state records 11,600 cases