The Latest Breaking News from John Gerrard

Two surveys conducted on the Gold Coast late last month reveal more people are living with the virus than reported, with authorities to conduct random tests this weekend to better understand the pandemic's extent.

Queensland has recorded 8643 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths, including four fatalities in aged care.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard says nine people have died with COVID-19 across Queensland and there are 8,643 new cases confirmed in the latest reporting period. He says all the people who died were over 60.

Queensland has recorded another 16 COVID-19 deaths, including a child aged under 10, along with 9630 new cases amid calls for more children to be vaccinated.

A child aged under 10 is among 16 new COVID-19 deaths in Queensland, with the state recording 9,630 new cases.

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Queensland's Health Minister says she is "very concerned" about the number of aged care residents who have not received a COVID-19 booster shot, after eight more aged care residents died from the disease.

Another three Queenslanders have died with COVID-19, taking the total number of deaths in the state since the coronavirus pandemic began to 199.

Another 13 people in Queensland have died from COVID and 8,580 new cases have been recorded in the state, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says. She also confirmed masks will be mandatory for high school students and encouraged for students from Year 3 when classes resume on February 7.

Another 12 people in Queensland die from COVID-19 and 10,391 new cases are confirmed in the latest reporting period, with a third of the deaths being people who were unvaccinated.

Eighteen more COVID-19 deaths are reported in Queensland as the number of people in hospital with the virus continues to decline.