January 5, 2022

There are another 66 new cases of COVID-19 across the South Burnett, according to figures released by Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council on Wednesday morning.

Most of the new cases are in Kingaroy (47) but there are also more cases in Murgon (11), Nanango (5) and Cherbourg (3).

This takes the total number of infections in the region since December 29 to 228, although this figure is yet to be confirmed on the Queensland Health website which will be updated later on Wednesday with statistics to 7:00pm on Tuesday.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard announced on Wednesday morning there were 6781 new cases across Queensland in the latest reporting period, taking the total number of active cases to 32,312. 

Dr Gerrard said the real number would be significantly higher because there were a lot of people with mild symptoms who had not been tested, people who had used RAT tests at home, and people who can’t get tested.

There were now 265 people in hospital, a rise in patients with “intermediate” COVID illness. He expected this number to continue increasing over coming weeks.

There were 10 people in ICU including two people on life support (ventilators). A total of 17,031 people were receiving COVID care at home.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 90.78 per cent of Queenslanders aged 16 and above had now received their first dose of vaccination. The second dose rate was now 86.85 per cent.

The 500,000th booster shot was administered in Queensland on Tuesday.

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South Burnett Regional Council has been advised that the COVID testing clinic at the Kingaroy Hospital closed at 11:00am, Wednesday (January 5).

The testing clinic will reopen at the Kingaroy Airport on Thursday (January 6).

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