Queensland records 10,391 new COVID cases and 12 deaths – with Omicron threat not over yet

Queensland recorded 10,391 new Covid cases and 12 deaths on Saturday – as the state’s chief health officer ominously warned the Omicron strain of the virus is far from over.

Four of the people who died were unvaccinated, with CHO John Gerrard confirming two had only received a single vaccine dose – and none had a booster shot.

‘This is the peak, not the end, we are in the middle,’ he said. ‘That third (booster) dose is quite critical.

‘The virus has clearly spread through the younger age group and now (the older) age group are most vulnerable.

‘The epidemic is progressing, and so far, the outcomes in terms of hospitalisations and complications is significantly lower than what we were expecting.’

The state’s chief health officer John Gerrard (pictured) has warned the Omicron strain of the virus is far from over

Dr Gerrard (pictured left, with Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath) stressed on Saturday that booster shots are highly recommended for people of all ages

Dr Gerrard added the Sunshine State hope to see a further drop in Covid case numbers over the next few weeks. 

‘The unknown is what happens as those numbers decline, what the tail of that looks like,’ he said.

‘It’s not totally clear what the next phase is, but the numbers will decline substantially.’

The state’s health leader also dismissed concerns about the new Covid variation, dubbed the ‘son of Omicron’.

He said it was similar to the Omicron strain of the virus and initial information indicates the vaccine is working. 

Queensland health authorities initially feared there would be thousands of residents infected with Covid-19 by the end of January, with hundreds more in ICU. 

With 833 people currently in hospital and 53 in ICU, Queensland was tracking well, the Courier Mail reported.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the worst-case scenario was ‘quite frightening at the time’, but the current situation was ‘very heartening’.

‘In saying that, we haven’t been past the peak yet, that peak is upon us now in the southeast,’ she said.

Dr Gerrard also warned against communities becoming complacent. 

‘This is not over,’ he said. ‘The news is good so far, but don’t go out and celebrate just yet.

‘Generally the situation is stable.’ 

The latest figures show that 91.93 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have had one dose of a vaccine, while 89.40 per cent have had two jabs.

In NSW, a record 49 deaths were recorded on Saturday, with 31 in Victoria. 

Queensland health authorities initially feared there would be thousands of residents infected with Covid-19 by the end of January, with hundreds more in ICU (pictured, people waiting for a Covid test on the Gold Coast)

Dr Gerrard also warned against communities becoming complacent, stating ‘the news is good so far, but don’t go out and celebrate’ (pictured, protestors in Brisbane’s CBD recently)