Tragedy as toddler dies from Covid

The 23-month-old died at Queensland Children’s Hospital, in Brisbane, on Sunday.

A toddler has died from Covid-19 in Queensland.

The 23-month-old died at Queensland Children’s Hospital, in Brisbane, on Sunday.

“Children’s Health Queensland can confirm that, sadly, a 23-month-old child died from Covid-19 at the Queensland Children’s Hospital on Sunday, 24 July 2022,” a spokesman said.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the child’s family.”

The child is the youngest to die from Covid in Queensland, and 14th child under the age of nine to die of Covid in Australia.

The horrible news came after state government modelling showed Covid hospitalisations were likely to peak late August with about 1,660 cases.

“Hard work is underway to ensure our health system is ready for what’s ahead,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Tuesday.

The 23-month-old died at Queensland Children’s Hospital, in Brisbane, on Sunday. Picture: Google Maps

“Preparations include bringing extra beds online and scaling up our Queensland Ambulance Service coordination hub.

“We’re moving more health staff to the frontline and using virtual care models to reduce pressure on emergency departments.”

Queensland Health said 8,612 new Covid cases were recorded on Tuesday, while 21 people had died in the 24 hours before the reporting period.

The state currently has 66,569 active cases, including 31 people in the intensive care unit.

There were 6,109 new cases recorded for the state on Monday.

Latest data shows 92.9 per cent of Queenslanders aged over 16 have been fully vaccinated, while 94.4 per cent have had their first dose.

Ms Palaszczuk has implored members of the public to “come together again and fight”.

“When we are faced with the worst, Queenslanders always step up. It’s time to come together again and fight: get vaccinated, use a mask in crowds and indoors, and stay home if you’re sick. Thanks for looking after each other, Queensland,” she wrote to Twitter.

“Thanks to all our healthcare staff working hard to keep Queenslanders safe.”

BREAKING: New modelling shows COVID-19 hospitalisations are likely to peak in late August at around 1,660 cases. #covid19pic.twitter.com/Qn1O3nJajz

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 26, 2022

There are now more Australians in hospital with Covid-19 than ever before, according to Our World in Data.

The previous record of Covid hospitalisations in Australia, which sat at 5390 at the end of January, has now been surpassed, with 5429 Australians now in hospital with the virus.

A total of 91 people have also died in Victoria, NSW and Queensland in the past 24 hours, with Australia’s death toll surpassing 11,000 over the weekend.

Infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin said while our death rate at the moment is “alarming,” the restrictions that have been in place over the past two years have worked in reducing the severity of our winter wave.

“You have to remember that cumulatively over the course of the pandemic we’ve had great measures to keep the virus at bay until we had a lot of people vaccinated, and that’s put it in a really good position,” he said.

Dr Griffin, along with other experts, is calling for an introduction of restrictions to slow down the number of people ending up in hospital.

“We just need to get all of those simple things we’ve been talking about for so long to happen at a much higher rate,” he said.

Overnight, Victoria recorded 40 Covid deaths, NSW recorded 30 and Queensland recorded 21.

A total of 869 people in Victoria and 2,344 people in NSW are being hospitalised with the virus.