Queensland has experienced its deadliest day of the pandemic so far after 21 people died with the virus – more deaths than were recorded in NSW.
The latest fatalities in Queensland were aged from their 60s to their 90s, four of whom were unvaccinated and only two who had had their booster shot.
Seven deaths were in aged care, bringing the sector’s death count to 134 – more than half of the total deaths recorded in the state.
“It just stresses me greatly every day to be reporting on older Queenslanders who are dying without having received the booster,” chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said.
“We know that most of these people who have not received the booster are not anti vaxxers.
“I hear stories about elderly people who have who have dutifully made their appointment with their general practitioner four weeks down the track. It‘s there there is plenty of booster out there is available at multiple locations there is no need to wait to get boosted particularly if you’re an older Queensland, provided you pass that three month period.”
Dr Gerrard reported a rise in cases to 8508 on Saturday morning, up from 6857 infections in the previous reporting period.
Public sector hospitalisations have, however, eased from 798 to to 727. The number of people in ICU fell from 52 to 46 .
In the private sector, there are 63 patients in hospital and two in ICU.
There have now been 268 Covid deaths in Queensland, all but seven of these coming in the new year.
The previous high for daily deaths was 19 on January 28.
Saturday’s update comes after NSW recorded its lowest case tally since the Christmas period, while Victoria’s numbers are at the lowest since the early days of xjmtzywthe New Year.
Queensland’s latest death toll was higher than the one seen in NSW, which recorded 18 fatalities on Saturday, while Victoria reported its highest death count since 2020 with 41 deaths.
Hospitalisations and ICU admissions in NSW and Victoria are easing.
