Highlights
- Queensland is implementing new COVID-19 restrictions.
- Different states and territories are experiencing rising numbers.
- Some well being professionals are calling for different states and territories to comply with swimsuit and likewise implement restrictions.
Queenslanders are being suggested to put on face masks because the state enters its fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hospitalisations have greater than doubled to 205 prior to now week, whereas 73 individuals have died and 21,761 new circumstances have been recorded because the starting of October.
Case numbers have elevated because the weekend with the BQ.1 variant – which has swept Europe and the US – spreading in northern Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Thursday raised the virus alert stage from inexperienced to amber, which implies face marks are advisable indoors when individuals cannot socially distance, in healthcare amenities and round older or weak individuals.
“The fourth wave that now we have been anticipating, now, we imagine, has arrived however nobody ought to be alarmed,” she advised parliament on Thursday.
“We have now been dwelling with this virus for a very long time, and Queenslanders know what to do.”
Persons are suggested to take a speedy antigen check each two days if somebody of their family has COVID-19.
The present wave is predicted to peak inside 4 to 6 weeks, with hopes it will likely be “brief and sharp” with the worst passing earlier than Christmas.
Queensland’s vaccination charge stays at 91.5 per cent, with Well being Minister Yvette D’Ath urging individuals to e book their booster photographs to raised defend themselves from an infection.
“We all know that among the finest safety in opposition to this virus comes from making certain that we’re totally updated with our booster doses,” she advised parliament.
Susceptible Queenslanders can also be eligible to obtain COVID-19 antivirals coupled with vaccination, she mentioned.
“This gives important safety in opposition to the virus and gives the perfect probability of stopping severe sickness,” Ms D’Ath mentioned.
“Queenslanders have been put to the check time and time once more, and every time, now we have prevailed. I am certain this time will likely be no totally different.”
Chief Well being Officer (CHO) Dr John Gerrard mentioned the brand new wave was anticipated, and hopefully, it would peak in 4 to 6 weeks.
“We anticipate to see waves of this intermediate waves of this sort persevering with for some months and even longer,” he advised reporters.
“We’re fairly assured that the height of the wave will happen previous to Christmas; that is not the top of the wave however the peak of the wave.
“The form of this specific wave is troublesome to foretell … current expertise abroad has urged that these waves, now that there was a variety of immunity locally, is likely to be brief and sharp, and we’re hoping that would be the case with this one.”
The CHO’s powers to order the state’s borders shut, lock down cities or mandate vaccines for most people had been revoked by parliament final month.
Dr Gerrard can nonetheless legally order contaminated individuals to isolate, and shut contacts to quarantine and mandate face masks and vaccination in well being amenities for an additional 12 months.
Will different states comply with?
Professor Adrian Esterman, chair of biostatistics and epidemiology on the College of South Australia, mentioned, “this isn’t only a Queensland downside”.
“We’re seeing this new wave taking place throughout the nation,” he mentioned.
“As of final week, the efficient replica quantity for Australia was 1.11, representing a 23-day doubling time for case numbers – simply in time for Christmas.”
Professor Esterman mentioned different states ought to comply with Queensland and implement restrictions.
“ATAGI is coming beneath rising stress to permit a fifth dose to weak individuals,” he mentioned.
“The onus is now on the opposite states and territories to comply with Queensland’s lead and improve their well being recommendation, and if needed, reimpose some public well being measures, like face masks recommendation.
“Absolutely, mandating face masks on public transport is just not that troublesome.”
The Victorian Division of Well being launched a video on Twitter on Thursday saying that Victoria is getting into a brand new COVID wave.
Within the video, Chief Well being Officer Brett Sutton tells viewers “if you do not get COVID, you possibly can’t unfold COVID”.
The NSW authorities has additionally warned residents of rising COVID circumstances. NSW Well being launched a video on Twitter this week warning of fixing variants within the state.
“We imagine COVID circumstances will rise within the coming weeks,” NSW Chief Well being Officer Kerry Chant mentioned.