Queensland records deadliest Covid day
THE coronavirus continues to surge across Queensland, with 9974 new cases and 18 fatalities reported on Friday, making it the highest daily death rate since the pandemic began.
An unvaccinated person in their 30s and 12 people in aged care were among the deaths.
The number of patients presenting to public hospitals in the state’s southeast was showing signs of stabilising as the state reported 818 hospitalisations, down from Thursday’s total of 829.
A total of 54 people are in intensive care.
Authorities on Thursday had flagged hospital admissions were showing signs of flattening in Brisbane, Ipswich, and Logan, while the Gold Coast was already witnessing a decline after the Omicron wave passed its supposed peak this week.
That said, chief health officer Dr John Gerrard warned case numbers were yet to peak across greater Brisbane, on the Sunshine Coast, and in Townsville.
The latest daily case figures were down from the 11,600 new infections reported 24 hours earlier, a plateau that reflects the tail end of the peak.
A total of 3960 Rapid Antigen Tests have been registered by Queenslanders.
More than 91 per cent of Queenslanders have had at least one dose as the state slowly creeps up to get to 90 per cent double dose.
More than one million Queenslanders have had a booster shot.
Authorities are urging parents to book their children in for their vaccine.
Friday marked two years since Queensland recorded its first ever Covid case.