Queensland has recorded another nine COVID-19 deaths in the latest reporting period, with seven of those being in aged care facilities.
The state recorded 5,746 new cases, but Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said there had been a "substantial reduction" in hospitalisations, with 726 people currently in hospital, and 47 in ICU.
Of the nine deaths, two people were unvaccinated, two had only a single dose, while four had received two shots.
None had received their booster.
Chief Health Officer Doctor John Gerrard said the pattern in the state's deaths was becoming "increasingly clear".
"Most of the deaths we are seeing in Queensland, are in the un-boostered older age group, so un-boostered older Queenslanders are at highest risk of death," Dr Gerrard said.
"Also, there is a significant risk of serious illness and death in the unvaccinated younger age group as well but as we're now close to 90 per cent double-vaxxed, we focus more and more on those boosters in that older age group."
There have been a total of 277 COVID-related deaths in the state since the pandemic, with 268 of those occurring since December 13, when Queensland's border reopened.
Evacuation of aged care home last resort
There were reports on Saturday that the COVID-stricken Jeta Gardens facility would be evacuated, after COVID-19 claimed the lives of 15 residents and infected almost 200 residents and staff.
The federal health department later confirmed an evacuation was not required.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said such an extreme measure was a last resort.
"Evacuating aged care facilities is a very big and difficult task. I know firsthand how challenging it can be and how disruptive it can be for those residents," he said.
"These are, by and large, not very mobile and well folks and, so, if you think about moving people who have mobility issues — many of whom have dementia and confusion issues — moving them from their home can be very dangerous for them."
Mr Miles said the situation at Jeta Gardens was indicative of a national issue and the crisis was not confined to deaths from the virus.
"It's the cumulative impact of staff shortages, of isolation requirements, of other supply chain issues," he said.
"We've got people now who have been isolating, who are feeling very isolated, the impact on their mental health is significant or they're not getting the regularity of care that they used to, whether that's a bathing or other assistance.
"They're not getting in some cases, the medication and medical care that they would normally receive because their facility has staff off with COVID or because they've potentially been exposed to COVID.
"So, right now, that's the epicentre of what's going on."
RATs stock arriving ahead of school start
Mr Miles said more than two million rapid antigen tests have arrived in Queensland ahead of tomorrow's return to school.
"We have a very detailed return to school plan that has been implemented across schools. The last element of that plan was making sure we had sufficient rapid antigen tests so that parents could get their children tested if they had symptoms," Mr Miles said.
"We now have those tests. They're on their way out to schools and will be available during the week."
Dr Gerrard said it was very unlikely that schools would be shut and that he was not expecting the return to school to substantially impact hospitals.
"This is not like 2021. There are no major plans to shut down schools. We want to be able to control this virus at a classroom level," he said.
"If kids are sick, well then they need to go home and quarantine, but our goal is not to completely contain this virus. Our goal is to minimise hospitalisations."
