‘It’s everywhere’: Mask rules extended as Qld records surge in infections
Queensland has recorded 186 new cases of Covid-19 and the State’s mask mandate will be extended to all hospitality, cinema and theatre staff as the Government moves to protect the tourist sector.
From 5am Thursday patrons at cinemas and theatres will also need to wear masks.
Wednesday’s case numbers, up from 86 the day before, and the biggest single daily total since the pandemic started, are believed be an underestimate of the true number of virus cases.
“Many thousands of cases” will emerge in the next few weeks Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said.
Queensland now has 79 confirmed cases of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant across the State.
“It is everywhere and we know that we are not picking up every case,” Dr Gerrard said. “That number of 186 is an underestimate of the real number of people in Queensland who are already carrying this virus.”
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Most had “trivial” symptoms and only mild illness. Dr Gerrard said that only one person was in hospital in Queensland with any significant Covid-19 symptoms and that patient had multiple other medical problems.
Queensland is expected to hit the 90 per cent mark for first dose of the vaccine sometime on Wednesday.
Since Monday, 257,000 people have crossed the border into Queensland from southern hotspots, which are now seeing massive spikes in their case numbers as the Omicron variant runs rampant.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the extension of the mask mandate to hospitality sectors in a bid to protect workers who, if testing positive, would need seven to 10 days off work.
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“We have spoken to the industry and to the unions. They understand why this is necessary. We don’t want all of our cafés and restaurants going down because of the Omicron variant. This is very practical, this is sensible,” Palaszczuk said.
“It (Omicron) takes a lot of people out, it is so contagious.”
Palaszczuk denied that Queensland’s requirement that all travellers from southern hotspots get a negative PCR test 72 hours before travel was holding the country to ransom.
Testing centres in NSW and Victoria have been swamped by people being tested and there is anger amongst travellers whose Christmas plans are delayed and thrown into chaos.
Palaszczuk said she had spoken to the NSW Premier, who said that only 10 per cent of those being tested in NSW were doing so for the purpose of travelling north.
During the testy press conference, Palaszczuk pleaded with reporters to be respectful.
Palaszczuk said it was hoped that by January 1, the PCR test would be replaced by a rapid antigen test, which could give quicker results and result in less hold up for those seeking to enter the State.
She said this needed to be approved first however.
National Cabinet is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss mask requirements for indoors along with advice about whether three jabs will be needed in the future for someone to be fully vaccinated.
So far in Australia, 1.5 million people have received their booster shot, out of an eligible 3.1 million.
