Queensland surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 deaths today, with the pandemic virus on course to feature among the state's leading reasons for lives lost this year.
Lea King's much-loved husband Colin was one of them.
The father of four and grandfather of 10 died in February, just before they were due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
The 74-year-old crossword lover, who lived in Logan, south of Brisbane, was being treated for lung cancer when he caught SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19.
But Mrs King said "it was the COVID that got him and that's on the death certificate that the COVID pneumonia is the cause of death".
The pair had enjoyed "15 good years" of retirement travelling around Australia and overseas together and had "plenty to live for" when COVID-19 cut his life short.
Mr King also volunteered at a local community centre in Logan, where he was a mentor for a life skills program, which helps people who are struggling.
His widow urged others to "take precautions" amid the "scary" number of cases in the community and said there needed to be more public reminders about the virus.
'Hopefully the numbers will come down'
Mrs King's pleas are echoed by experts pushing for more community education about the need for booster vaccinations and on the benefits of COVID testing and the use of anti-viral drugs for those at risk of progressing to severe disease.
The latest Queensland Health data shows 1,008 COVID-19 deaths so far, including at least 500 aged care residents, most occurring during this year's Omicron waves.
That is much higher than modelling last year suggesting 200 Queenslanders could die in the first three months after interstate borders reopening, based on the less transmissible Delta variant.
If the current rate fails to slow down, COVID would sit behind heart disease as the state's leading causes of death, based on 2014-2018 figures reported in The Health of Queenslanders 2020 report.
Although low by international standards, if the rate of COVID-19 deaths continued at the same pace for the rest of the year, Deakin University chair in epidemiology Catherine Bennett said SARS-CoV-2 was "tracking to be one of our top causes of death" for 2022.
"As winter comes off, if we don't see any new variants … then hopefully the numbers will come down," Professor Bennett said.
"One message doesn't fit all. It's working with community leaders, it's identifying where our highest rates are and focusing in those communities. In particular, looking at where we're seeing more case fatalities.
"Is it higher infection rates, or is it that in certain areas we have higher case fatality rates because we don't have people getting second boosters or antivirals early enough?"
More than 300 of the Queensland COVID-19 deaths – almost a third — have occurred in the Metro South region of Brisbane and surrounds, taking in Logan, where Mr King lived.
That is almost double the COVID death toll for Metro North (165) and the Gold Coast (167).
Booster shots 'critically important'
Queensland has the lowest rates of people in any Australian state or territory who have received three or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with just 62.9 per cent of those eligible having had a booster shot.
The next worst states are NSW on 67.1 per cent, Victoria on 72 per cent and Tasmania on 72.3 per cent.
Western Australia has the best rates at 83.2 per cent.
Despite high levels of COVID complacency among large sections of the population, director of infectious diseases at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital, Geoffrey Playford, said booster shots were "critically important".
"Everyone was very anxious to get their first and second doses, and that was rightly so, but we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the longer-term protection really relies upon booster doses," Dr Playford said.
Wider access to fourth COVID shot needed
His call comes amid a push for wider access to fourth COVID-19 jabs, which are currently approved only for people aged 65 and older, First Nations people aged 50 and over, and for those who are severely immunocompromised — but they must wait four months after receiving their third dose.
The US recently made fourth doses available to everyone aged 50 and older.
Dr Playford joined Professor Bennett in urging Queenslanders to be aware of their eligibility for anti-viral medication if they developed COVID and the need to access the drugs within five days of symptom onset.
Australians most at risk of developing severe COVID – people with underlying medical conditions and the elderly – are eligible for the drugs.
"Certainly, those people who've got compromised immune systems and are under the care of a transplant doctor or oncology specialist, they tend to know about that, but for other people who perhaps don't have regular contact with healthcare providers, particularly those who are elderly, they perhaps don't know," Dr Playford said.
'It's a bit lax'
At a bingo hall on Brisbane's southside, Paul Schenk, 71, who has had four doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and his flu shot, talks about the need for more public discussion on the ongoing risks of the pandemic.
When asked if he knew when and how to get anti-viral treatment if he contracted COVID, Mr Schenk said he "hasn't heard much about them at all".
Inside the same bingo hall, Lyn Jones listened intently to the call of numbers while receiving oxygen to help her breathe.
She has end-stage lung disease, diabetes and Parkinson's disease, with her specialist telling her she would have "about 15 minutes to live" if she got COVID-19.
The 56-year-old has had three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and thinks there should be public health rules in place to reduce the spread of the virus.
"I think it's a bit lax," Ms Jones said.
'Deaths are not dropping off'
University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay warned the pandemic was not over, calling on authorities to address indoor air quality as seriously as food safety and to continue public education campaigns on how individuals could reduce their COVID-19 risk.
Dr Mackay said people should work from home, whenever possible.
"We also need to look at ways so that we can get people moving around cities, built-up areas, safely," he said.
"We need public transport to get on board with doing something to make sure the air on buses and trains is as pure as it can be.
When it comes to hitting 1,000 deaths, Dr Mackay borrowed a quote others had used: "We are dying from COVID, not living with it."
"Deaths are not dropping off and haven't been for months — they seem to be steadily growing," Professor Mackay said.
"We're just not talking about it and that's not right.
"I just think we should be having proper conversations and running educational campaigns about how we can prevent getting infected."
