QLD records 1589 new Covid cases as Premier announces PCR tests scrapped for travellers from Covid hotspots

Queensland has recorded 1589 new Covid cases with 80 per cent of active cases now the Omicron variant. It comes as PCR tests for interstate arrivals are scrapped from January 1.

Queensland has recorded 1589 new Covid cases as the controversial “tourism testing” for interstate hotspot arrivals is scrapped from January 1, meaning travellers no longer need to clog clinics.

Today’s case numbers set another daily record. There remains no Covid-19 cases being treated in intensive care.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard confirmed a Covid-19 case has been recorded on Thursday Island.

Dr Gerrard said Omicron was more dominant in Queensland than anywhere else in Australia, with 80 per cent of the state’s active cases the more contagious variant.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced, via social media, that travellers from hotspots will no longer have to get a Covid-19 PCR test 72 hours before they arrive.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the new rule meant travellers from hotspots, which include New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT and parts of the Northern Territory, no longer needed to queue up at clinics from today.

Instead travellers must take a rapid antigen test no more than 72-hours prior to coming into Queensland, though Dr Gerrard said no more than 24 hours before was highly recommended.

Dr Gerrard also confirmed the state was “pulling back” on Covid-19 contact tracing.

He said significant changes had been made to the contact tracing policy on Christmas Eve.

“This should have had some positive impact on the hospitality sector, I had hoped,” Dr Gerrard said.

“In broad terms in broad terms, we are pulling back to isolating those who are sick, and their immediate household contacts, that is the main group that we are contacting.

“So, the broader contact tracing is gradually being pulled back.”

There were more than 35,000 tests conducted yesterday, despite the removal of the day-five test requirement. More than 800 vaccines were administered.

The chief health officer said two patients in their 80s were currently unwell, warning Covid was not a benign disease.

Dr Gerrard said the number of patients in intensive care was an important number to monitor. He said it was a useful way to gauge the severity of the disease.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Jerad Williams

Dr Gerrard said rapid antigen testing was appropriate for people entering the state from NSW and Victoria.

He said the new system was an “honesty system”, but he warned it would be a criminal offence for someone to make a false declaration.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said Queensland’s decision to scrap PCR tests for interstate arrivals was a “good move”.

“PCR tests should be reserved for close contacts and those feeling unwell - not healthy tourists looking forward to a well-earned summer holiday,” he said.

South Australia also scrapped the need for arrivals to have PCR tests.

Originally published as QLD records 1589 new Covid cases as Premier announces PCR tests scrapped for travellers from Covid hotspots