Queensland records four new Covid-19 cases in hotel quarantine, including one Omicron case

Four new cases have been recorded in Queensland overnight, including one international traveller with the Omicron variant.

Four new cases have been recorded in Queensland overnight, including one international traveller with the Omicron variant.

All four were detected in hotel quarantine and none have been infectious in the community.

It comes Federal Government data reveals the Gold Coast has finally hit 80.8 per cent of eligible residents aged 15 and over double vaxxed, with 87.5 per cent having had one dose.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard has now warned Omicron is “likely to become the dominant strain” worldwide in coming months.

“At this stage we’ve not seen any impact from the opening of the border, it’s a little early to see something like that,” he said.

“But we’re expecting it, it is inevitable and we’ve been planning for it for two years.”

He added much of the vaccine hesitancy in Queensland was “melting away” as the virus continued to arrive on Australian shores.

Dr Gerrard also revealed health authorities were looking at mask requirements on a daily basis and did not rule out a mask mandate being returned, saying masks may be required indoors if there was widespread community transmission.

He said Queensland may be “a little warm” for masks to be mandated outdoors and because there was no evidence of sustained community transmission it was “probably a little premature” to bring in a mandate.

“There are some arguments nationally that we should just be all wearing masks now, so we are looking at that,” he said.

Queensland's newly appointed chief health officer Dr John Gerrard. Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images,

Asked about whether the vaccine mandate for people wanting to attend bars, clubs and restaurants would be lifted once the state reached 90 per cent doubled dosed, Dr Gerrard said:

“We are not even looking at removing the mandate. It’s not something that’s even on the agenda.

“The immediate priority of the unvaccinated is to protect them from infection and that means to keep unvaccinated people away from crowded environments.

“Vaccinated people can live their lives normally, it’s not fair on the vaccinated to ask them to make sacrifices for the very small number of people not becoming vaccinated.

“The general principal is we don’t want unvaccinated people in crowded environments where they can acquire this infection, it’s not in their interests, the interests of people around them and certainly not in the interest of the health care system that could well become overwhelmed if we have too many unvaccinated people being admitted to hospital.”

Dr Gerrard said with existing Covid strains, the majority of vaccinated people did not get very sick and did not end up in hospitals, and while it was too early to say much about the Omicron

He added that it “looks likely” current vaccines will be effective, especially with a booster at five months.

“But it’s still early days,” he said.

YESTERDAY:

Queensland has recorded one new local case as thousands flood into the state and borders officially reopen.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: “Today of course is a very important day.

“Throughout the pandemic families have had to deal with circumstances beyond their control.

“Today we have seen families reunited. That was always part of our plan.

“We always said Christmas is a special time of year for family and friends to reunite, and there’s very emotional scenes at the moment at airports and at the borders.”

82.3 per cent of Queenslanders have now had their first dose and 81.2 per cent have also had their second dose.

New chief health officer Dr John Gerrard warned the state would see new cases as it opened “very cautiously”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and asks Dr John Gerrard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

“Up until now because of the high vaccination rates all we’ve been seeing are spot fires,” he said.

“But as time goes by it’s inevitable that the case numbers will increase. How many we will see and when that will occur is uncertain.”

The “vast majority” of Covid-19 patients in future will be managed at home, according to Dr Gerrard.

“I am encouraging people who have received their last dose of vaccine more than five months ago to receive a booster shot as soon as possible,” he said.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has confirmed a case involving a casual contact of a Covid-19 case at a Gold Coast Bunnings had since been named a false positive.

“Particularly on the Gold Coast, come and get vaccinated because your rates are not as high (as Brisbane),” she said.

Passengers on Jetsra flight JQ967 from Cairns to Coolangatta, Gold Coast Airport on Friday, in rows 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 between 10.38am – 12.41pm have been deemed close contacts, and have been asked to isolate.

The city’s GPs remain on high alert as the borders reopen, with residents urged to mask up in crowded public places and a warning that “people will get unwell, some will die”.

General Practice Gold Coast board chairwoman Dr Kat McLean urged the community to proceed with caution, as tens of thousands of travellers from interstate hot spots drive and fly into Queensland through the Gold Coast.

Dozens of Covid exposure sites have been listed across the Gold Coast in recent days.

“The risk in our community is now higher. People will get unwell, some will die,” she said.

“While we know that immunisation makes a huge difference, we also know we have significant numbers of our local population who are not yet immunised. We also know that immunisations on their own will not be enough.”

Dr McLean said masks worked and should be continued to be worn inside shopping centres, on public transport and in other areas where social distancing wasn’t possible.

“We need to be mindful of how clean the air we breathe is – outdoors is best,” she said.

“Inside we are likely to be rebreathing others exhaled breaths, this is how Covid spreads.”

She said that booster doses were particularly important, especially when it came to the Omicron variant.

“If it’s been five months since your last Covid vaccine please book a booster as soon as possible.

“Testing is also important now that borders are open, even if you’re immunised and symptoms are mild, children should also be tested.”

Dr McLean also reminded residents that Queensland Health guidelines still required masks in healthcare settings, including GP clinics.

General Practice Gold Coast board chairwoman Dr Kat Mclean has warned Gold Coasters to mask up with the influx of tourists.

Gold Coast Primary Health Unit’s Dr Lisa Beecham, also a GP, said those who were still vaccine hesitant should get independent advice from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance website.

“Look at the decision aided by NCIRS and work through it if you’re still undecided,” she said.

“The virus is already circulating here on the Gold Coast, we will get lots more numbers, now is the time to act for yourself to be safe, as well as for your families and community.”

Follow @emilytoxward