Qld’s Covid death toll rises as cases fall

Of the fatalities, three had received their booster and nine were in aged care. Deaths in aged care in Queensland account for more than half of the overall tally at 118.More than 4074 tests were recorded in the last 24 hours. The number of patients presenting to public hospitals in the state’s southeast is showing signs of stabilising, as the state reported 732 hospitalisations, down from Thursday’s total of 820.Fifty people are in intensive care. The state’s death toll over the course of the pandemic has reached 234, with all but seven of these fatalities coming in the first 33 days of 2022.Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath criticised the federal government’s efforts in aged care and told them to “get on with it”. “The federal government needs to implement the recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission to keep residents safe,” she said.Chief health officer John Gerrard said authorities were still planning for the worst in preparing for potential future waves in winter.“The virus is much more widespread than the collected data has suggested,” he said.Authorities have urged anyone who has had their second coronavirus vaccination dose at least three months ago to come forward and get their booster. More to come