The premier has released updated modelling showing the true scale of the predicted third wave, which is still a month away from peaking and will put more in hospital.
“I’m advised that in the current third wave, hospitalisations are likely to peak at around 1660 cases,” she said.“Thankfully, it does not predict an increase in patients in intensive care.”Earlier modelling has suggested the peak would come around now and would see about 1000 people in hospital at one time, but the cases have already exceeded that prediction.
The predicted peak would be significantly higher than the previous peak of people in hospital during the first wave in January, when 928 people were hospitalised with COVID-19.In daily figures on Tuesday, Queensland recorded 21 new deaths from the virus, and 1123 people are hospitalised, 31 of whom are in the ICU.
The premier said there were also 47 people hospitalised with influenza, putting additional pressure on the hospital system. She again urged people, especially those aged over 65, to wear masks in public places and to make sure they were up to date with their COVID boosters.“So I’m urging Queenslanders, where indoors, where possible, please wear a mask.”The state now has 66,569 active COVID-19 cases, although experts have said the actual figure is probably a lot higher because of the relaxing of testing arrangements and reliance on home RATs.