Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said in a press conference on Friday that more than double the expected number of health staff were unable to work due to isolation, triggering the cancellation of elective surgeries. “We have seen over the last two weeks numbers increasing in our hospitals – as of yesterday (Thursday), we now have 3305 health workers and Queensland ambulance service workers who are isolating,” she said. “Each hospital and health service based on their demands will be looking at whether they need to suspend planned care – that means elective surgery.” Ms D’Ath declared more than 50 pop-up vaccination clinics in shopping centres and amusement attractions will open across the state over the school holidays to take pressure off the hospital system as the state recorded 10,722 cases in the past 24 hours.Hospitalisations are expected to rise over the next two weeks as the state continues to ride yet another “peak”. Chief health officer John Gerrard said the second wave was being driven by the BA.2 subvariant that is responsible for two-thirds of isolations ranging from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns and Darling Downs. There are 376 people with Covid in public hospitals. Thirteen are in ICU and four on ventilators. Around 63 per cent of Queenslanders have received their booster shot. More than 2373 children tested positive to Covid in the past 24 hours with 21 of them in hospital. Ms D’Ath said parents with children aged 5-11 should come forward and get them vaccinated.
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