Qld Covid wave ‘will get worse’: Premier’s warning as 18k new cases recorded

Queensland has recorded an explosion in the number of cases after a change in testing came into effect.

Queensland has recorded 18,000 new cases of Covid-19, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warning the wave was “going to get worse” in the coming weeks.

The explosion in cases - up from 11,174 the day before - is due to the state starting to include self-reported rapid antigen test results in its daily figures from Sunday.

Of the 18,000 infections, 4320 were from RATs.

On Sunday, 402 people were in hospital with 22 in intensive care. Five people were requiring ventilation.

Ms Palaszczuk said the state was expected to reach its peak number of cases by the end of the month and early February.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 18,000 new cases had been recorded in Queensland. Picture Annette Dew

She said the modelling necessitated delaying the start of schooling until February 7.

“It is not desirable to have our children back starting school during the peak of this wave,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Queensland will be facing its biggest test over the next four weeks … it is sensible and logical to delay the start of the school year so children can be safe and get vaccinated.

“This wave is going to get worse, not better.”

Year 11 and 12 students will commence remote learning from January 31.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said the coming few weeks would be a significant challenge to the health care system.

The announcements come after the state recorded 11,174 new cases on Saturday, which was the third consecutive day that infections have topped 10,000.

Qld recorded its third consecutive day above 10,000 cases on Saturday but only including PCR results. Pic Annette Dew

In order to more accurately reflect case numbers, Ms D’Ath on Friday said an online self-reporting system had gone live for people to flag their positive at-home tests.

People who test positive via a RAT are being told to immediately isolate for seven days.

“Queensland Health will use your information for outbreak control and contact tracing use,” it says on its website.

“We won’t use your information for any other purpose unless authorised by law.”

Queensland has also now suspended elective surgeries due to Covid taking out thousands of healthcare workers.

This measure – which is similar to previous pauses the government has enacted – will be reviewed at the end of January.

“We know this is going to cause anxiety for people having this surgery delayed,” Ms D’Ath said.

“We had to do this in 2020. We are doing this as many other states are now doing it as well.”

Queensland’s Covid hospitalisations jumped from 327 to 349 in the 24 hours to 7pm Friday.