Queensland's fourth COVID-19 wave has peaked, health authorities say.
But with the virus still widespread throughout the community, the state's Chief Health Officer John Gerrard repeated warnings for sick Queenslanders to stay away from the elderly and vulnerable during the festive period.
New data shows 599 people were in Queensland hospitals with the virus on Monday, but that dropped to 476 yesterday.
Reported cases across Queensland have fallen from 16,626 to 14,241 in the past 10 days.
"There have been big drops in all of our COVID-19 metrics, including self-reported rapid antigen tests, laboratory-collected PCR tests, the PCR test positivity rate, ambulance call-outs and cases among aged care residents," Dr Gerrard said.
"[But] COVID-19 hospitalisations data is the most reliable when determining whether a wave has peaked."
On Wednesday, the official end of the latest reporting period, there were 517 people being treated in hospital.
In Queensland's three previous COVID-19 waves, hospital patient numbers peaked at 928, 590 and 1,123 respectively.
"Interestingly, each of the four waves have taken around 42 days to peak, give or take a day either side," Dr Gerrard said.
"We will take this into account when predicting the course of future COVID-19 waves."
He said about 80 per cent of cases in the fourth wave had been infected for the first time.
COVID still widespread, precautions advised
With Christmas Day just two days away, Dr Gerrard said Queenslanders should remember that even though the peak had passed, the virus was still widespread.
"The latest data is encouraging, but you should continue abiding by the recommendations for our amber level and take precautions, including avoiding contact with elderly or vulnerable family and friends if you're sick," he said.
"Obviously this is a hectic time of the year with large crowds due to Christmas and New Year's Eve parties, family get-togethers and Christmas shopping.
"The last thing we want to see is a surge in case numbers because of people being complacent."
With the light still set at amber under Queensland's traffic light system for COVID-19, masks are still recommended in healthcare settings, on public transport, indoors if people cannot socially distance and around people who are vulnerable, older, or medically at risk.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles urged Queenslanders to be particularly vigilant of COVID directions when visiting relatives and friends in aged care settings this festive period.
"We've always known that the aged care setting was the most dangerous for COVID spreading, that the elderly are the most vulnerable to the disease and in that setting, it can be very hard to control," Mr Miles said.
"The message really is that if you're around vulnerable people this Christmas, first of all if you have symptoms, you probably shouldn't be, reflect on that.
"But also take those other precautions – keep your hands clean, wear a mask."
Mr Miles also urged people to keep hospital emergency departments for emergencies.
"If we can get treatment elsewhere – at a primary healthcare setting, at a pharmacy … that can ease some of that pressure on our emergency departments," he said.
Twelve Queenslanders died of COVID-19 in the week to Wednesday, taking the state's total number of COVID-19 deaths to 2,405.
