Another 10 people have died with COVID-19 in Queensland as the state raises concerns about the percentage of aged care residents who have received a booster.
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Eight of the ten deaths reported on Tuesday were aged care residents, none of whom had received their third jab.
The state recorded another 7588 COVID-19 cases and released figures about the total number of deaths in aged care since the start of the pandemic.
Of the 202 COVID-19 deaths in Queensland, 107 have been among aged care residents, Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said on Tuesday.
"Our thoughts are very much with their friends and family," he said.
The latest deaths include two people in their 70s, four in their 80s and four in their 90s.
Health minister Yvette D'Ath is writing to the Commonwealth raising several concerns within the aged care sector, including access to booster shots.
"Of the 107 deaths we've had in aged care residents since the start of the pandemic , only 10 of these people have been boosted ," she said.
The state does not know how many residents have received their booster as a percentage of the aged care population, Ms D'Ath said.
"'I'm hearing from people who say they're begging managers of aged care facilities to bring people in to vaccinate their loved ones for boosters."
Plans for workforce shortages, personal protective equipment and rapid antigen test supplies are also a concern, Ms D'Ath said.
"Despite the Commonwealth saying 'we've got a plan, we're managing these outbreaks', they are writing to the...Queensland Government as recently as the 19th of January asking us to use our contracts with private hospitals to find staff."
Meanwhile, Dr Gerrard says an increase in hospital numbers in the last 24 hours is not cause for concern, with the seven day average the more important figure.
There are now 801 people in Queensland public hospitals with COVID-19, up from 744 the previous day.
"It will be more telling what we see towards the end of the week in terms of whether we continue to see the downward trend, which we still predict," he said.
Of the total, 50 are currently in intensive care, and there are another 67 people with the virus in private hospitals.
The state is "still struggling" to reach the 90 per cent double jab threshold, with current vaccination rates for those aged 16 and over sitting at 89.56 per cent.
But premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wants people to return to work, including those in the public service, as the Omicron wave appears to peak in areas of the south east.
"If the kids are going back to school, its time for workers to go back to work."
The majority of students are due to return to the classroom on February 7.
Australian Associated Press
