Queensland breaks its Covid death toll record with seven deaths but infection numbers are DOWN

Queensland breaks its Covid death toll record with seven patients losing their lives but infection numbers are DOWN to 15,122 cases

  • Queensland records 15,122 new Covid infections and seven deaths, a record
  • Two people who died were in the their 80s and five people were in their 90s 
  •  There were now 702 people, with 47 of those in ICU and 15 on ventilation


Queensland has recorded 15,122 new cases of Covid infection as the state recorded seven deaths.  

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said there were now 702 people, with 47 of those in ICU and 15 patients on ventilation. 

There are now more than 200,000 active cases in the state.

Two people who died were aged in their 80s and five people were in their 90s. 

‘Two of these people had not been vaccinated, five double vaccinated and zero had received a booster,’ Chief Health Officer Dr Jon Gerrard said. 

Dr Gerrard said the number of people in Queensland hospitals represented a ‘significant rise’ in the past 24 hours.

He said new cases continued to be centred on the Gold Coast and also south of the rover in Brisbane.  

‘So we are expecting the Gold Coast peak sometime in the next week or so, and Brisbane will follow shortly thereafter,

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the number of people in Queensland hospitals represented a ‘significant rise’ in the past 24 hours

The seven deaths follow three announced on Sunday and two days last week when six people died each day. 

Dr Gerrard said unvaccinated people were 24 times more likely to end up in an intensive care unit compared with someone who is triple vaccinated.

‘I am still very concerned that there are vulnerable people, elderly people who have not received their third dose of vaccine,’ he said. 

‘They may have received their second dose of the initial course some many months ago.

‘We know that immunity wanes particularly in their elderly and immuno-suppressed, so I am particularly keen that the elderly and immuno-suppressed get that third dose to prevent ending up in hospital in intensive care.

Dr Gerrard urged Queenslanders (pictured) not to panic if they suspected they had COVID-19 with pressure mounting on the ambulance service and rapid antigen tests in short supply

Dr Gerrard urged Queenslanders (pictured) not to panic if they suspected they had COVID-19 with pressure mounting on the ambulance service and rapid antigen tests in short supply

Education Minister Grace Grace said the extra week initially announced for Queensland school students at the end of the school year would no longer be needed and school will now finish on December 9, 2022.

The extra week was announced when the state decided to delay the start of the 2022 school year by two weeks until February 7 so that a large number of 5-11-year-olds can receive a first dose of a Covid vaccine.  

Yesterday, Dr Gerrard urged Queenslanders not to panic if they suspected they had Covid-19 with pressure mounting on the ambulance service and rapid antigen tests in short supply.

‘If you have symptoms which are consistent with Covid-19 you should consider yourself positive … and isolate at home,’ he said.

‘We encourage you … to go to a clinic and have a PCR test.

‘There’s no need to panic about that (having Covid-19). The majority of people if they are in good health and are vaccinated will have a mild illness.’

Education Minister Grace Grace said the extra week initially announced for Queensland school students at the end of the school year would no longer be needed and school will now finish on December 9, 2022. Pictured: Brothers Louise and Harry Taylor-Bishop pose for a photo after receiving their first vaccine at Kippa Ring Communication Vaccination Clinic, Brisbane

Education Minister Grace Grace said the extra week initially announced for Queensland school students at the end of the school year would no longer be needed and school will now finish on December 9, 2022. Pictured: Brothers Louise and Harry Taylor-Bishop pose for a photo after receiving their first vaccine at Kippa Ring Communication Vaccination Clinic, Brisbane

People line up at a vaccination clinic in south Brisbane as the state approaches 90 per cent of its population with two doses of the vaccine

People line up at a vaccination clinic in south Brisbane as the state approaches 90 per cent of its population with two doses of the vaccine

Dr Gerrard said an ambulance should be called only if people had difficulty breathing, significant chest pain or were coughing up blood.

Queensland’s vaccination rates to Sunday showed 91.59 per cent had received one jab and 88.71 per cent of the population had received two doses of a vaccine.

Border controls were removed for interstate travellers from 1am last Saturday.

Restrictions on international travellers such as a 14-day quarantine period are expected to be lifted once the state reached 90 per cent double vaccination some time this week. 

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