July 13, 2022
More than 4400 First Nations residents in Queensland have contracted COVID-19 so far this month.
Official Queensland Health statistics released on Wednesday show that 84,655 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander residents in Queensland have now been reported has having had the disease since the pandemic began.
On July 1, this figure was 80,224.
(In the 2016 Census, there were an estimated 221,276 First Nations residents in Queensland.)
Queensland’s official death toll also increased on Wednesday with the announcement of 12 more deaths, taking Queensland’s tally since the pandemic began to 1350.
On July 1, this figure was 1254; on December 13 last year, the State’s death toll stood at seven.
The death toll in the Darling Downs Health also rose by two on Wednesday, taking the total since the pandemic began to 69; 19 of these deaths have occurred this month.
Officially, there are now an estimated 44,371 active COVID-19 cases in Queensland, although this figure is believed to be vastly underestimated.
There are 859 people being treated for COVID in hospital, including 14 in intensive care.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged seniors to consider wearing masks in crowded places.
However, she said the onus was now on individuals to take precautions.
The latest Omicron wave is expected to peak in late July or August.
