The state’s top doctor has declared that Queensland is now over the worst of the current COVID wave but has warned the next one is only a matter of months away.
Modelling released last month showed the state was not expected to reach the peak of this wave until late August.
It was predicted that as many as 1660 people would be in hospital with the virus by then.
On Monday, Queensland recorded 2504 new cases with the number of people in hospital dropping to 667.
The number of reported active cases has fallen to 35,482, down 45 per cent from the 66,569 cases recorded on July 26.
Chief Health Officer John Gerrard says it’s clear the third pandemic wave has peaked in Queensland.
“This is much earlier than national modelling had predicted and we believe this fantastic result is because Queenslanders have responded to national advice,” Dr Gerrard said.
However, Dr Gerrard has cautioned that despite the peak being over, the wave is not and he is urging Queenslanders to continue taking precautions.
He is also warning of another likely increase in cases later this year saying the virus is not going away.
“We are going to continue to have ongoing transmission in the community at a lower level. Now, the current pattern that we have seen in Queensland and worldwide, is of a wave every three months.
“We still believe it is likely there will be a further wave this year after another three months, probably towards the end of the year. But it is likely that as time goes by, these waves will become milder in severity.
“That’s certainly the hope and expectation from all of us.”
