Queensland records its biggest EVER spike in Covid cases

Queensland has recorded 10,332 new COVID-19 cases and one virus death in the state’s biggest daily surge in infections.

The new cases emerged after 34,832 tests in the 24 hours to 6.30am on Thursday, taking the total number of active cases to 42,250.

Twelve people are in intensive care, including two on ventilators, while 284 patients are being treated with the virus in hospital.

The surge in new cases, which follows the 6871 reported on Wednesday, comes as testing capacity is being pushed to the brink and authorities warn many undetected infections are likely to be circulating in the state.

People in Queenslande wait in line for a Covid test at the Robina Health Precinct on the Gold Coast on Wednesday (pictured) 

The unexpected closure of private PCR testing hubs due to staffing issues related to virus cases and close contact isolation rules, and a slow down in analysis speed due to the high demand is weighing on capacity.

The Queensland government announced on Tuesday they had secured 18million rapid antigen test kits amid ‘significant’ global demand.

About 12 million free rapid antigen tests are set to be distributed to close contacts of known cases over the next few months and another six million point-of-care kits are being distributed to testing clinics. 

Authorities say 17,000 cases are in home quarantine while more still are self-isolating as close contacts of known cases.

There are also 89 active COVID-19 outbreaks in private aged care facilities in Queensland with 25 involving COVID-positive residents, according to the federal Department of Health.

High infection rates and quarantine rules are causing staffing shortages in hospitals, residential aged and disability care facilities, prisons and the police force.

Many hotels and resorts have also had to close or partially shut down due to a lack of staff, while many other private sector businesses are struggling to fill shifts.

Cars line up at a Gold Coast PCR test hub in Southport on Wednesday (pictured) 

The new cases emerged after 34,832 tests in the 24 hours to 6.30am on Thursday, taking the total number of active cases to 42,250. 

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath welcomed Wednesday’s national cabinet decision to not require a PCR lab test for confirmation of a rapid home test positive result.

‘The only people coming forward to get tested right now at our clinics should be people who have symptoms who have not been able to get access to a rapid antigen test,’ she said.

Household contacts of positive cases who require a day six test and cant get a rapid kit also qualify for PCR testing, she said.

Queensland is distributing 150,000 home tests at PCR clinics from Thursday with the longest lines in the southeast, to be given to vulnerable people faced with hours of waiting.

‘We look forward to getting more of these tests, but we have only been given just over 150,000,’ Ms D’Ath said.  

PCR test hubs are straining under the demand for tests (pictured: a Gold Coast drive through clinic) 

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said Thursday’s jump in cases was an huge underestimate of the real number as more people do their own testing.  

‘The fact that it’s very infectious means we’re going to see a very large number of people in the next two to three weeks getting infected, and also impacting on our hospitals,’ Dr Gerrard said.

He added the relatively low number of cases needing intensive care is ‘some cause for hope’ but more people require treatment in general wards.

‘To all my colleagues, we are going to be stepping up to a very major emergency in the coming two or three weeks,’ he said. 

Multiple PCR test hubs have closed in Queensland amid huge demand and staff shortages (pictured: a Brisbane drive though PCR test hub on Wednesday)