'Virus is everywhere': Queensland records hundreds of new Covid cases
Queensland has recorded 765 new cases of coronavirus on Christmas Day.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath told reporters from Redcliffe on Saturday hospitalisations remain “very low” and the Sunshine State “prepared for the last two years” for new cases to emerge.
Ms D’Ath said 151 of the new cases are the Omicron variant. There are no ICU patients suffering from coronavirus in Queensland after the sole patient left the unit and is now recovering. Only five people in total are in hospital for coronavirus.
More than 85 per cent of eligible Queenslanders are fully vaccinated.
However, it’s not all good news with coronavirus now in 22 Queensland LGAs. Ms D’Ath said Cook and South Burnett have been added to that list.
“This virus is everywhere now,” she said.
“And we have to assume that anywhere we go we could be exposed.”
Earlier, NSW recorded its highest-ever daily case total while Victoria also surpassed 2000 new Covid-19 cases.
Coronavirus has wreaked havoc across the country as Australians prepared to celebrate the holidays.
Jetstar was forced to cancel flights on Christmas Eve from Sydney and Melbourne after a number of the airline’s staff were identified as close Covid contacts.
More than 30,000 people in NSW alone have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 10 days. It means thousands will spend Christmas in lockdown or some form of self-isolation.
Health Minister Greg Hunt on Friday said from January 4, boosters will be brought forward to four months after the second dose — down from five months currently.
Then from January 31, people can get boosters after three months.
About 7.5 million Australians will be eligible for their booster shot come January 4. This will jump to 16 million at the end of the month once the time frame is dropped to three months.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese used their Christmas messages to thank Australians for standing together and supporting each other during the pandemic.
"This pandemic continues to buffet us ... (but) Christmas is a time of hope and we are an optimistic people," Mr Morrison said.
with AAP
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