Qld daily virus cases climb to 589

Nick Gibbs | December 24, 2021

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has asked residents to “get ready for COVID” and prepare a care plan, after the state reported 589 new virus cases.

The state has announced a new COVID-19 care pathway, with advice on how people can prepare for a positive diagnosis as the virus spreads across the state.

“By getting COVID Ready, you’re doing the same as we prepare for our bushfires, for our cyclones, for our floods that we do every year,” Ms “D’Ath said on Friday. 

The advice recommends preparing a “Covid ready kit”, comprising a thermometer and pain relief, as well as a plan on who will take care of children if parents get sick.

Ms D’Ath also welcomed a shortening of the wait time for fully vaccinated Queenslanders to get a booster dose, as announced by the federal government on Friday. 

Boosters will be brought forward to four months after the second dose from January 4, and three months from January 31.

Queensland’s active cases have risen to almost 1400, but Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said only three patients were in hospital with mild to moderate symptoms. 

A total of 268 infected people are being managed in their homes and 110 people are in hospital for other reasons.

“We expect large numbers of infections because of the very contagious nature of this Omicron variant,” Dr Gerrard said on Friday.

“It is likely there will be significant numbers of admissions to hospital and you can help by wearing those masks.”