Covid-19 Australia: Queensland records 4,249 new cases

Queensland has recorded a large spike in Covid-19 cases with 4,249 new infections and one death with the state warned everyone will be ‘exposed’ to the virus.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, chief health officer Dr John Gerrard warned tens of thousands of residents will become infected in a matter of weeks. 

‘All of us are going to be exposed in the next few weeks,’ he said. 

‘Even if you’ve had the two doses of the vaccine, that probably isn’t enough to stop you from getting infected. That is why it is so critical to get the third vaccine.’ 

The new cases in Queensland mark a significant uptick on the 3,587 reported on Sunday

The new cases mark a significant uptick on the 3,587 reported on Sunday.

The state has also reported one new death after a man, aged in his 30s, died suddenly at his home in the Gold Coast.  

‘All I would say very strongly is that it’s very, very unusual for a young man to die suddenly from COVID-19,’ Dr Gerrard said.

‘So it needs further investigation exactly what has happened here. 

Hospitalisation rates have also increased to 147 – up from 112 – while the number of patients being treated in ICU has doubled to 10. Only one patient, in his 80s, is on ventilation. 

‘We have over 20,000 active cases [in Queensland] and only one patient on a ventilator last night,’ Dr Gerrard said. 

‘All of us are going to be exposed in the next few weeks, I think we just have to assume that all of us are going to be exposed.’ 

The soaring case numbers prompted premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to urge residents to work from home in a bid to reduce community transmission. 

Ms Palaszczuk reminded residents to get their booster shots as soon as possible. 

More to come