Queensland has recorded another nine deaths from COVID-19 and confirmed 13,551 new cases in the latest reporting period.
Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said there was a slight drop in hospitalisations over the past 24 hours, mostly on the Gold Coast, with 889 people currently in hospital, including 47 patients who are in intensive care.
Fifteen people are on ventilators.
Dr Gerrard said most patient discharges were from the Gold Coast which was "exactly as expected" as the region passes its peak in case numbers.
"We expect that drop to continue," he said.
Dr Gerrard said the remainder of the south-east would most likely reach its highest number of cases by next week.
"Metropolitan Brisbane, probably Sunshine Coast, West Moreton, Ipswich probably sometime in the next seven days," he said.
Speaking in Townsville, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was good news for the Gold Coast, but other regions needed to remain on alert.
"What we are seeing is … that the peak on the Gold Coast is now coming down, which is good news for the coast but, of course, we will see that peak in south-east Queensland happening very shortly as well," she said.
"So once again, my message is to the elderly people … seniors in our community: If you do not need to go out in the next couple of weeks, just limit where you go."
Dr Gerrard said infections were expected to peak in Townsville in a fortnight, but he was "very confident" the public hospital was ready.
"They are one of the most prepared organisations I have been to," he said.
"Every aspect of their preparation is absolutely outstanding."
Booster 'particularly important' for vulnerable
The total number of people who have now received a booster shot across the state has tipped over 1.25 million.
Ms Palaszczuk said 50.28 per cent of eligible people have received the third shot.
Dr Gerrard said of the nine deaths, two people were in their 50s, two in their 70s, three in their 80s and two in their 90s.
Two people were unvaccinated, one had received a single dose of a COVID vaccine, while six had been fully vaccinated.
None of the nine people had received a booster.
"Boosters are particularly important for those who are most vulnerable, those in the older age groups," Dr Gerrard said.
Ms Palaszczuk said problems relating to staff shortages in aged care facilities were a Commonwealth responsibility.
It comes after the Federal Health Department released a report revealing at least 50 Queensland aged care residents with COVID-19 had died during the Omicron wave, including seven in one Brisbane nursing home alone.
"I've raised this at National Cabinet," she said.
"My understanding is more PPE has been given out to the nursing homes which is being done federally.
"I've also raised the issue of boosters federally as well."
