Queensland authorities have confirmed a 23-month-old boy has died from COVID-19 as the Premier revealed the state’s hospitalization rate is likely to peak at 1660 patients during the COVID wave -19 incoming
Queensland Health said last night the boy died at Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane on Sunday.
The department said it would not provide further details at this stage, citing patient confidentiality.
Queensland’s Premier has revealed the state’s hospitalization rate is likely to peak at 1660 patients during the incoming wave of COVID-19. (9 News)
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed the state’s hospitalization rate will peak at 1,660 patients during the incoming wave of COVID-19, almost 50 per cent more severe than the previous one.
Health experts initially predicted a peak of 1,000 Queenslanders hospitalized during the current wave, but the latest model shows that figure is an underestimate.
“The peak is expected to be at the end of August, luckily we’re not expecting an increase in intensive care patients,” Palaszczuk said.
“This is very serious and I want Queenslanders to take it seriously.”
There are currently 1123 people hospitalized with the virus, an increase of 99 patients in just 24 hours.
Another 21 people were reported to have lost their lives on Tuesday.
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Maria Boulton said the government was warned of the surge but failed to prepare.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve met with them and asked for more resources for those on the front lines,” he said.
Queensland deputy health chief Peter Aitken held an emergency meeting with state doctors to discuss the strain on hospital systems. (9 News)
Yesterday, AMA Queensland held an emergency meeting with CHO state MP Dr Peter Aitken to discuss long-term plans to ease the strain on hospital systems.
“We need to prepare for the next wave and one of the solutions is to ensure we have enough hospital beds. But of course with that, we need more staff,” Boulton said.
The TGA has also stated that a range of RAT tests will be taken off the shelves due to concerns that they do not detect all strains of COVID-19.
COVClear COVID-19 Antigen Test, NowCheck, COVIFIND, and BD Veritor System for Rapid Detection have been considered unreliable.
Queenslanders have been urged to take PCR tests.