New COVID strain sweeps Queensland with ‘sharp increase’ in cases

A new COVID-19 Omicron sub-variant has led to a “sharp increase” in cases across the holiday period in Queensland, with health experts urging Queenslanders to take care while visiting older relatives.

Queensland Health said the XEC strain, which arrived in Australia around October, comprised about 49 per cent of COVID-19 samples taken during the past two weeks.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Heidi Carroll said the state was in the middle of another COVID wave, with more than 250 people admitted to hospital daily – more than double the previous fortnight.

Queensland Health reported a 128 per cent increase in hospitalisations due to COVID-19 in a fortnight.Credit: Dan Peled

“Almost one in five Queenslanders who reported contracting COVID-19 this year have been hospitalised, and there has been a sharp increase this month,” Carroll said.

“COVID-19 is not going away. In fact, it continues to mutate, and Queensland is experiencing another wave.”

Of these hospitalisations, about half were in the south-east, and about two-thirds of those were in Brisbane.

Most of the admissions were people aged over 65, with Carroll saying many were not up to date with their vaccinations.

“Those aged 65 years and older continue to be at greater risk from COVID-19, and I’m very concerned about the rapidly increasing number of elderly Queenslanders being hospitalised,” she said.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of being vaccinated.”

While hospital admissions were rising, the number of patients had not been significant enough to strain the state’s hospital services.

Queensland Health’s acute respiratory infection surveillance reporting tracked several spikes in RSV, the flu, and COVID-19 across 2024.Credit: Queensland Health

After the XEC variant hit the northern hemisphere earlier this year, many vaccines now available in Australia target the new strain.

The vaccines were also designed to tackle the second-most-prolific strain in Queensland, KP3.1.1, which accounted for 34 per cent of cases. Health experts therefore recommended vaccination as the most effective prevention.

The federal Health Department recommended one primary dose for adults, with annual boosters for those aged 18 to 64. For Australians over 65, it advised boosters every six months.

However, a reduction in the number of people getting booster shots, and lapses in recommended preventative behaviours – such as good hygiene, getting tested, and staying home when exhibiting cold and flu symptoms – have contributed to several peaks in respiratory illnesses this year, experts have said.

Queensland Health reported more than 70,000 COVID-19 cases in 2024, of which 19 per cent required hospital admissions. Two-thirds of hospitalised Queenslanders were over 65.

The state also experienced a wave of Influenza A, RSV, and whooping cough this year, with the Queensland government making flu vaccinations free after 11 people died before May.

Throughout winter, the amount of sick leave taken in Queensland was up 40 per cent on the same period last year, according to data from business management platform MYOB.

With the holidays well underway, Queensland Health warned those visiting family to maintain preventative behaviours.

“We’re now in peak festive-gathering season, which, unfortunately, means Queenslanders are at a greater risk of catching and spreading the virus,” said Carroll.

“Don’t be the person who gives the unwelcome gift of COVID-19.”

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