Queensland records 5746 Covid cases and nine deaths

Queensland is considering taking drastic action in response to Omicron, which the Deputy Premier has described as a “last resort”.

Queensland has recorded 5746 new cases of Covid-19 and nine more deaths.

There are 726 people with the virus being treated in hospital and 47 in intensive care.

The Omicron wave has had a massive impact on aged care and there are calls to send the Defence Force in to evacuate nursing homes.

But Deputy Premier Steven Miles said evacuation would be a last resort.

“Evacuating aged care is a difficult task,” he told reporters on Sunday.

I know from first hand experience how challenging it can be and how disruptive it can be for those residents. These are not, by and large, very mobile and well folk.

“And so, if you think about moving people who have mobility issues, many of whom have dementia and other issues, moving them from their home can be very dangerous for them.”

Mr Miles confirmed the Commonwealth government was working with one aged care facility.

“Of course, in an emergency situation, the state and our ambos and our health services know what to do and can do it, but it should not come to that,” he said.

The Deputy Premier stressed the need for all nursing home residents and staff to be fully vaccinated with booster shots.

“If more people were boosted, then less people would be dying,” he said.

“Right now, that’s the epicentre of what’s going on. Right now, that’s where it’s happening and that rightly should be the focus.”

Originally published as Queensland records 5746 Covid cases and nine deaths