New CHO to probe border

QUEENSLAND’S next chief health officer has pledged to ask “valid questions” about whether the state’s borders will open at 80 per cent, as he takes the reins before the most challenging time of the pandemic.

Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Infectious Diseases Unit director Krispin Hajkowicz has been confirmed as the state’s next chief health officer when Jeannette Young becomes the Queensland Governor on November 1.

Asked whether the state’s borders would open at 80 per cent, Dr Hajkowicz replied: “I’m not the CHO yet so I’m looking to asking those very valid questions.”

He said he was confident Queensland’s hospitals could handle a surge in Covid cases once the borders reopened.

“It’s tested hospitals around the world and it will test ours … our systems are looking great but it will be difficult,” he said.

He declared it would be “very hard to follow in the footsteps of Dr Young”, whose handling of the pandemic has won widespread support.

Dr Young heaped praise on her replacement, revealing Dr Hajkowicz had been her go-to person throughout Queensland’s response to Covid-19.

“He is the perfect person to take on the role at this point in the pandemic,” Dr Young said.

“I’ve been going to him for the past two years for advice.”