Qld warns elective surgeries could be cut

Marty Silk and Nick Gibbs | April 1, 2022

Elective surgeries at some Queensland hospitals may need to be suspended as the number of health workers furloughed due to COVID-19 surpassing 3300.

The state recorded another three virus deaths and 10,722 new cases on Friday, taking the number of active cases to 59,300.

There are also 403 patients in hospital and another 14 in ICU, while 3305 health workers are isolating or quarantining as close contacts.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said elective surgeries may need to be halted in some areas such as northern Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns and the Darling Downs.

“It’s important that we let people know that in various parts of Queensland right now we are seeing extra pressure,” she told reporters on Friday.

“Each hospital and health service … will be looking at whether they need to suspend planned care.”

The number of health staff currently off work has more than doubled in the past week and a half, she said.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said data suggests the current Omicron wave is about a third of the size of the previous one in January.

Queensland appears to be approaching the peak of infection transmission, he said, with hospital numbers expected to follow one to two weeks later.

As cases rise, the government has also changed its testing and quarantine requirements for people previously infected with the virus in line with national guidelines. 

Patients who have recovered from the virus don’t need to be re-tested for 12 weeks after their infection, regardless of symptoms. 

They also will not be considered a close contact or subject to quarantine requirements during that time.

The government has also extended Dr Gerrard’s pandemic powers to order face mask and vaccine mandates, as well as citywide lockdowns, for six months.

The extension of pandemic laws passed parliament on Thursday night with the support of 48 Labor MPs, but it was opposed by the Liberal National Party, Katter’s Australian Party, One Nation MPs, and independent MP Sandy Bolton.

Ms D’Ath said the powers are still needed to act quickly given the unpredictable nature of the virus.

“This bill has been developed in a period of ongoing uncertainty not experienced in a century,” she told parliament on Thursday night. 

“For the foreseeable future, there will continue to be unknowns.”

The LNP moved amendments to extend Dr Gerrard’s powers only until the end of May, as well as for the government to publicly release health advice and for a new parliamentary oversight committee for the CHO.

“To continually accept these laws without the proper oversight, without the proper transparency, would be for this parliament to not be doing its job,” LNP leader David Crisafulli said.

Ms D’Ath did not respond to transparency concerns, but said winding back the pandemic powers in two months was irresponsible.

While the Queensland Human Rights Commission had called for vaccine mandates to end, Ms D’Ath said the rights of the individual needed to be weighed with those of the general population.

“We know it is hard to weigh up those rights and get the balance correct, but we have to do it,” she said.