‘Fingers crossed’: Premier says case numbers suggest peak closer than we thought
Modelling suggesting the peak of Queensland’s virus wave would come towards the end of August could be revised as hospital numbers show signs of improving.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has a further 37 deaths from Covid-19, including eight overnight. (AAP Photo: Russell Freeman)
A decline in the number of patients with Covid-19 and the flu over the past few days is being monitored to see if it’s the start of a longer trend.
“Fingers crossed we may have been through the worst of it, but time will tell,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told Channel Nine on Tuesday.
“We just need a few more days to just get a handle on those those numbers.”
The state reported 782 people with Covid-19 in hospital on Monday, up from 762 on Sunday.
However, the figures mark a decline from the previous week, when the hospitalisation figure peaked at more than 1000.
Earlier modelling suggested Queensland would see hospital numbers peak at more than 1600 in late August.
The premier’s comments follow the release of the latest ambulance ramping data showing a slight increase in ramping as doctors warn of pressure in emergency rooms.
State ministers say there is no need to return to the strict virus control measures used before widespread vaccination, but Palaszczuk is urging people to take personal responsibility.
“I have been encouraging people to wear masks and to get their boosters,” she said.
“I think every premier and state leader has been saying this, as well as the prime minister, we are absolutely united on this, but it is disappointing to see people not doing it.”
