Some elective surgeries may be suspended again in Queensland as the state government pleads with residents to get their booster jabs amid a third COVID-19 wave.
Just under 700 public and private hospital patients have the virus and 7.6 per cent of Queensland Health workers are off on some form of sick leave.
“I have over 2000 staff that are furloughed just because of COVID,” Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said on Thursday.
Some hospitals are likely to suspend lower category elective surgeries depending on where staffing pressures are impacting the most.
“There’s no decision to have any statewide suspension. We’re allowing the local hospitals to manage that based on their own demands and pressures,” Ms D’Ath said.
With the current virus wave yet to hit its peak, the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better.
“The modelling says that we should expect that it will get worse leading up to the end of the month,” Ms D’Ath said.
While there are national discussions about expanding the criteria for who can get a second COVID-19 booster, there are concerns about vaccine availability for those already eligible.
Less than half of eligible Queenslanders have come forward for their fourth vaccine dose, or second booster jab.
“The latest data shows that if you are over 65 and you have not received your fourth booster, you are four more times likely to get the new (Omicron) variants,” Ms D’Ath said
Just 63 per cent of eligible people have got their third booster.
More than 94.2 per cent of the eligible population have had at least one vaccination.
“There’s no reason why our third dose and our fourth dose should not be at those same levels,” Ms D’Arth said.
The state recorded just under 6000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday and 17 more deaths.
There are just over 39,800 active cases.
