Qld reports a record 21 COVID-19 deaths

Laine Clark | February 5, 2022

A record 21 COVID-19 deaths have been recorded in Queensland amid state government calls for the Commonwealth to help aged care residents “lost in the system”.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard wants the federal government to “sort out” boosters at the state’s private aged care facilities as Queensland endured its deadliest day of the pandemic.

Seven of the 21 deaths were in aged care.

Overall, 134 Queensland aged care residents have died of COVID-19, more than half of the state’s total of 261 deaths since December 13.

Two of the 21 had received a booster shot and four were unvaccinated.

Two of the deceased were aged in their 60s, four in their 70s, 11 in their 80s and four in their 90s.

“It distresses me greatly every day to be reporting on older Queenslanders who are dying without having received the booster,” Dr Gerrard said on Saturday.

“We know that 70 per cent of Queenslanders over the age of 70 have received the booster … yet 90 per cent of the people who have died … were unboosted.”

He was concerned by the state of Queensland’s private aged care facilities, which fall under the federal government’s care, saying more needed to be done to lift booster numbers.

“These are not people who don’t want to be vaccinated, somehow … they have got lost in the system. That’s greatly concerning to me,” Dr Gerrard said.

“I am discussing this with my Commonwealth colleagues … we are trying to get this sorted out but ultimately it is the responsibility of the Commonwealth.”

Dr Gerrard said the state government had “some involvement” with Jeta Gardens private facility south of Brisbane, that has officially recorded 15 deaths.

The federal government reportedly organised a Saturday meeting with officials including Queensland Health at the nursing home.

It is believed the federal government installed an advisor for the facility but has ruled out evacuating residents.

“I don’t believe they have been evacuated but it is a private commonwealth facility … I can’t share any more information,” Dr Gerrard said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles claimed Jeta Gardens’ plight was typical of aged care facilities under the federal government’s watch.

“I am really concerned for the welfare of those residents … (but) I don’t think it is a solitary example tragically – nationwide there are more than 1000 facilities dealing with outbreaks,” he said.

“About half of our deaths have been in aged care facilities and most of those are residents who have not been boosted – there is no excuse for that.

“The Commonwealth made commitments about vaccinating people … in aged care and clearly they have failed to do that.”

Dr Gerrard said “150 to 200” COVID-19 patients were being admitted every day but claimed Omicron’s peak had passed in Queensland with hospitalisations overall declining.

There are 727 patients in public hospitals – compared to 732 on Friday – with 46 in intensive care.

In private hospitals there are 63 patients – three fewer than Friday – with two in ICU.

Queensland recorded 8508 new cases from 23,968 tests in 24 hours.

Latest figures show 92.17 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have had one jab and 89.92 per cent have had two.