Queensland Doctors Call for Mask Mandate as Hospitalizations Surge Amidst Covid-19 Wave
As Queensland grapples with the eighth wave of COVID-19, the state’s medical community is calling for a return to mask mandates in public gatherings, hospitals, GP surgeries, and planes. This urgent plea comes in response to a significant rise in hospitalizations, which have tripled since the start of the current wave.
Today, Chief Health Officer Dr. John Gerrard reported 221 COVID-19 hospitalizations, a stark contrast to the average of 77 recorded in the previous 28 days. While no deaths have been reported four weeks into this wave, Dr. Gerrard acknowledged the potential for a two-week lag between infection and fatal outcomes.
Despite the absence of fatalities, the surge in hospitalizations has raised concerns among healthcare professionals. Dr. Gerrard attributed the rise to a decline in vaccination uptake, particularly among individuals aged 65 and over.
The Australian Medical Association’s president, Dr. Maria Boulton, criticized Queensland Health’s lack of public communication regarding the latest wave and urged the government to encourage mask-wearing in the lead-up to Christmas.
“The public should be encouraged to mask up in medical settings, planes, or in crowds in the lead-up to big Christmas gatherings,” Dr. Boulton asserted.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of mask mandates, Dr. Gerrard emphasized the importance of proportionality and maintaining public trust in the Chief Health Officer’s recommendations.
“For me to overstate the risk would be disproportionate, to be making recommendations about general mask wearing would be disproportionate to the risk,” he explained.
Despite the lack of a statewide mandate, individual health services in Queensland have the discretion to implement mask requirements for staff and visitors. In neighboring Victoria, the acting chief health officer has encouraged Melbournians to consider mask-wearing, while NSW mandates masks in certain high-risk settings.
The current wave coincides with a concerning trend of vaccine hesitancy. Data indicates that 210,600 Queenslanders remain unvaccinated, representing approximately 60% of the national total. Additionally, 3.4 million Queenslanders aged 18 or older have not received a booster dose in the past six months.
The medical community remains vigilant and urges Queenslanders to take appropriate measures to protect themselves and their loved ones. Dr. Boulton emphasized the importance of antiviral treatments and booster vaccinations, stating, “We can’t be complacent.”
As Queensland navigates this latest wave, the call for mask mandates reflects the growing concern among healthcare professionals regarding the potential impact on the healthcare system and the well-being of Queenslanders.