Are Queensland Hospitals already in Crisis?
Queensland has kept Covid-19 out of the state by having strong border controls, but is now looking at relaxing these between November 2021 and early 2022.
In early October 2021, the Australian Medical Association of Queensland (AMAQ) requested action to fix the state’s ongoing problems, in its hospital system, before the interstate borders reopen and more COVID-19 cases hit the hospitals.
Dr Young has already stated that Queensland can expected around 400 cases per day after borders open, with a worst-case scenario of a peak of around 1,200 cases a day in 2022.
There have been many headlines about Queensland Hospitals already in crisis, such as these:
Some hospitals are already operating at more than 100 per cent capacity. And remember, QLD has only had 21 local cases in the last 30 days. Under one case per day.
As far as hospitalisations go, during October 2021 there have only been between 13 and 21 Covid-19 cases in hospital at any one time.
Will the Queensland Hospital system survive the new Covid-19 cases that will appear once the state borders open?