Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
Health
Louisa Rebgetz

Queensland records 16 new COVID-19 deaths, including a child aged under 10

Ms D'Ath made the announcement as she welcomed 60 new graduate paramedics into QAS. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)

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

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the child had a "very serious underlying rare inherited medical condition".

"This is very sad for the parents of this child," he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also sent her condolences to the families of people who had died.

"It's a very sad duty today to have to report our first young child that has passed away due to COVID. A young child under the age of 10," she said.

The Premier said 35 per cent of children aged five to 11 were vaccinated, but she wanted to see that number increase before face-to-face learning returned next week.

Of the 16 deaths, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said seven of those were in aged care homes.

She said it was a "high number" of deaths, bringing the state's death toll to 219 since December 13.

Dr Gerrard said the people who had died were aged between their 50s and 90s, six were not vaccinated, and only two had received their booster shots.

"So still that booster particularly in such a large vulnerable group is just really not adequate at this stage of the pandemic," he said.

"We really should be seeing a much higher booster rate … that is disappointing."

There are currently 764 people receiving treatment in hospital with 49 people in intensive care and 23 people ventilated.

"In terms of the hospital system, again, some improvement which is good to see," he said.

"That's down significantly from yesterday when that number was 801. That's a significant decline."

'Very substantial' slow in child vaccinations

Dr Gerrard warned parents not to be complacent as schools return next week after a "very substantial" slowing of the vaccination uptake for school aged children.

"We know that the virus will spread around the schools, that's inevitable and the more that are vaccinated the better," Dr Gerrard said.

The Health Minister said 35 per cent of children aged between 5 and 11 have had one dose, which had slowed in the last week.

In the 12 to 15-year-old age group, 75.5 per cent have had one dose and 67.54 per cent have had two.

"This is too low," Ms D'Ath said.

She said she was looking at options to get more children vaccinated by building it into the immunisation program.

Ms D'Ath said there were 65 schools where children could get the jab this week.

"Take advantage of that. Go out and get your child vaccinated," she said.

What we know about the subvariant of Omicron with Norman Swan
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.