AMA Queensland president Maria Boulton is calling on Australians to wear masks as the latest Covid wave hits the country
A top doctor has called on Australians to wear masks in public again as a new Covid wave pushes hospitals to a ‘breaking point’ ahead of the holidays.
Maria Boulton, president of the Australian Medical Association Queensland, says people should choose to wear masks in public places such as large crowds, aircraft and medical settings to slow the spread of Covid before Christmas.
Queensland is currently in the fourth week of the latest Covid wave to hit Australia, with 122 people hospitalized with the virus – up from 74 people last month.
According to statistics from the Covid Live website, there are currently 749 active Covid cases in Queensland, 1,393 cases in Victoria, 1,637 in NSW and 2,493 in Adelaide.
Dr. Boulton appealed to Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer (CHO), Dr. John Gerrard, to advise the public on how to avoid a ‘disastrous Christmas period’.
“The public should be encouraged to mask up in medical settings, aircraft or in crowds in the run-up to large Christmas gatherings,” she told the Courier mail.
“Of course, a mask mandate would be the CHO’s decision, but hospitalizations are increasing and health care workers are stretched to their limits and cannot handle another overload of patients during the holidays.”
A top doctor has urged Australians to wear masks as a new Covid wave pushes hospitals to ‘breaking point’ ahead of the upcoming holidays (pictured, masked beachgoers)
Dr. However, Gerrard was quick to pour water on the possibility of a mask mandate, saying the worst of the Covid wave would be over before Christmas.
The state’s top medical official said a mandate would only be implemented in “exceptional” circumstances and in response to a public health emergency.
“Covid-19 is now an ongoing part of our reality, as are other acute respiratory illnesses such as influenza and RSV,” Dr Gerrard said.
‘We have returned to normal infection control measures in healthcare. Individual hospitals and health departments will determine when and where masks are required within their facilities, based on the local situation.”
Maria Boulton, president of the Australian Medical Association Queensland, has urged people to wear masks ahead of the festive season
He urged Queenslanders to take health measures based on their individual needs, with no current public health guidelines requiring Queenslanders to mask up.
In Victoria, acting chief health officer Dr Christian McGrath has urged Melbourne residents to wear masks in some high-risk settings.
Dr. McGrath said the best way people can protect themselves amid rising cases is to wear a mask, get a booster shot if eligible and keep windows open.
It comes as infections in Adelaide have tripled since October, with the state recording 2,493 cases on Tuesday, up from 1,691 cases a week earlier.
The rise in cases follows a similar spike in Queensland two weeks earlier, where the number of new infections almost doubled in a week.
Cruise ship the Grand Princess, which docked in Port Adelaide on Monday, was plagued by twin infections of gastroenteritis and Covid-19.
Health authorities reported that seven percent of passengers were infected.
While some hospitals in South Australia have reintroduced masks in all clinical settings, Premier Peter Malinauskas has ruled out a state-wide mask mandate.
Queensland president of the AMA Maria Boulton has encouraged people to wear masks in clinical settings, aircraft and large crowds to slow the spread of Covid before Christmas
Professor Peter Collignon, one of Australia’s most trusted Covid experts, told Daily Mail Australia he did not see Christmas as a “major problem” in terms of new infections
Peter Collignon, one of Australia’s most trusted Covid experts, told Daily Mail Australia he did not see the rise of new cases this Christmas as a “major problem”.
The professor said there are usually two or three Covid waves a year, while Australia already had two: one in January and last winter.
“That’s why it’s unlikely we’ll have anything big in the summer,” he said.
‘In the summer we have the advantage of being outside more, people can have barbecues instead of sitting inside and do things that reduce the spread of Covid but still allow a relatively normal social life.’
Professor Collignon said the virus had to change to survive, but the disease became less severe with each wave and new subvariant.
“It would only be a concern if the virus turns deadly or escapes the effects of the vaccine, but that has not happened,” he said.
Dr. Collignon shared some simple advice for those who test positive during the upcoming holidays: “If you are sick, don’t go.”