Queensland, the most populous Australian state, faced a surge in new COVID-19 infection in hotel quarantine. To prevent the spread of the novel infection, the authorities eye designating specific hospitals as COVID care centres.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the outbreaks were not linked to breaches in infection control by individual staff. “There is a view that this is about the environment and that is why the deep clean has occurred,” she explained.
Australian state needs another approach, the top medical official said. Instead of having COVID-positive cases in different hospitals around the city, Ms D’Ath is looking at a single, dedicated area. As NewDaily has learned, The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital are the first candidates so far.
“We believe that will reduce the risk and help with our resources as far as our health workers and making sure that it’s only health workers who are vaccinated also working with the staff,” Ms D’Ath said.
As of Monday morning, Queensland currently has 72 active cases. commenting on the situation, Ms D’Ath noted the progress following the lockdown, given the high testing numbers and low rates of community transmission.
Despite a significant increase in the number of patients being treated in the state’s hospitals over the past six weeks, the majority catching the virus overseas.
