The state recorded 6109 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday,bringing the total number of active cases to 64,913.
Annastacia Palaszczuk has called for at-risk groups to consider not going to the Ekka if they aren’t up to date with their COVID boosters.Bradley Kanaris
There are now 1024 Queenslanders in hospital with coronavirus,28 of them in intensive care.
There are no reported death numbers because authorities no longer compile those figures over the weekend.
The state could still be reaching a peak of cases and hospitalisations when the annual Royal Queensland Show begins next Saturday,August 6,and concerns have been raised that not enough is being done to prevent the spread of the disease,as well as influenza and other respiratory viruses.
Palaszczuk said the decision not to impose any mask or vaccine mandates remains,but she strongly encouraged everyone to take all necessary precautions to avoid getting sick at the show.
“I think people should give serious consideration if they are going to go to a mass gathering like the Ekka as a senior,if they haven’t had their booster,I would seriously consider not going,” she said.
“My mother said to me over the weekend should she go to the Ekka? She’s gone nearly every year,working putting the quilts up.
“My advice to her is she’s had her booster and she’ll wear a mask,and that’s the same advice I’m giving to everybody else.”
It follows,who also suggested at-risk groups such as the over-65s avoid the Ekka.
“It’s not just the Ekka,but I suggest that you rethink going into crowds,and make sure if you do go out,you’ve got a mask,” he said.
“It’s up to individuals at the moment to really assess the dangers,and family members to think about protecting their elderly family members.”
Aitken said the majority of those dying from COVID and currently in hospital were older people who were not up to date with their booster.
In the past five weeks,more than 97 per cent of Queensland deaths have been people aged 65 or over,and two-thirds of those were not up to date with their booster.
Ekka organisers have already said they would not be enforcing any mask mandates at the event,but hope a move to online ticketing will help manage crowd numbers.
They have also installed extra handwashing stations around the showgrounds,and are working closely with Queensland Health.
Meanwhile,the premier announced $142 million on Monday as part of a 10-year road map for innovation as part of the Advance Queensland initiative.
It’s a big step down from the initial Advance Queensland package of $755 million over seven years,but Palaszczuk said that was because of the initial outlay on facilities such as The Precinct in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley,where she held her media conference.
Going forward,not as much needed to be spent on new projects,she said.
The initiative will build on the “Smart State” foundation laid by former Labor premier Peter Beattie.
“There’s no doubt that the Smart State[program] was the start of the building blocks,and now we are adding layers upon that,” Palaszczuk said.