Qld records 11,174 new Covid cases, one death as elective surgeries put on hold

Thousands of Queensland health workers have been taken out by the rampant spread of Covid-19, prompting a pause on non-urgent elective surgeries.

Queensland has suspended non-urgent elective surgeries as Covid-19 takes out thousands of health workers amid a daily record of 11,174 new cases.

There was also another death overnight - an unvaccinated Brisbane man in his 30s - taking the toll since the start of the pandemic to 10.

It is the third consecutive day new infections have topped 10,000 in the Sunshine State, although the daily tally has not yet included people who have tested positive on rapid antigen tests (RATs) at home.

Victoria, for example, had its daily case tally jump from 21,728 to 51,356 on Saturday after including RAT test results in the official figures for the first time.

In order to more accurately reflect case numbers, Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath on Friday said an online self-reporting system was now live for people to flag their positive at-home tests.

Today we have recorded 11,174 new COVID-19 cases.

Sadly, we have recorded two deaths in the past 24 hours.

Full details âž¡ https://t.co/2vvTmlzIilpic.twitter.com/rbR92m5258

— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) January 8, 2022

It is hoped this register will allow the government to more accurately monitor the spread of Covid across Queensland, given delays in obtaining laboratory confirmation of positive PCR results.

“It is really simple to register that you have tested positive and we are asking anyone who has tested positive in the last 14 days to go on to their register and report, and of course going forward,” Ms D’Ath said.

Ms D’Ath on Saturday also announced non-urgent elective surgeries would be delayed until after March 1 to ease pressure on the health system, with more than 3500 workers now furloughed in isolation or having tested positive.

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, with 17 people now in intensive care, up from 14. Three people are on ventilators.

Queensland chief health officer John Gerrard has warned the total active caseload could climb into the “hundreds of thousands” by the end of January. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

There are now 63,000 active Covid cases in Queensland, with 24,000 being treated in home care.

The coroner also confirmed on Saturday a vaccinated Gold Coast man in his 30s who died earlier in the week was a victim of the virus.

Saturday’s update follows a warning from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Friday that back-to-school dates could be delayed by two weeks as the state braces for the Omicron wave to peak over a torrid January and February period.

Queensland chief health officer John Gerrard has warned the total active caseload could climb into the “hundreds of thousands” by the end of January.

Queenslanders are being urged to work from home where possible and to consider staying indoors for the next month-and-a-half.

Despite an increasing shift towards rapid antigen testing, there were still 33,000 PCR tests undertaken in Queensland over the past 24 hours, slightly down on 36,492 the day before.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged people to work from home where possible and to consider staying indoors for the next month-and-a-half. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Frustrations have boiled over in recent days as residents wait for hours in huge testing lines and even longer for results.

That said, new testing protocols have been introduced to ease pressure on the buckling health system and smooth out bottlenecks.

This includes PCR tests no longer being needed for Queensland border crossings or on day five, while less vulnerable people are being steered towards RATs wherever possible.

This push, however, has come as RATs remain relatively scarce in the community, with pharmacies and retail businesses scrambling for supply over the past few weeks.

On Friday, Ms D’Ath said the first batch of 18 million new RATs had begun to trickle out across the Queensland community, with supply set to ramp up over coming days.

This includes RATs being available at certain testing sites.

Queensland on Saturday also confirmed it had again paused its scheduled inflation-driven public transport fare increase.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the ongoing freeze was in recognition of the emergence of the Omicron strain in the Queensland community.

The scheduled fare increase will be implemented in July instead.