‘The virus is everywhere’: Omicron in Qld to peak ...

Boulia is now the only local government area in Queensland without any reported COVID-19 cases in the current wave.

Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said he expected the omicron wave to peak on the Gold Coast next week, and then in Brisbane the week after.

“So far, it’s heartening, but the numbers will increase,” he said.

Dr Gerrard said the unvaccinated in Queensland were 24 times more likely to end up in an intensive care unit than someone who was triple vaccinated.

“I’m still concerned there are elderly people who have not received their booster shot, to ensure they don’t end up in intensive care,” he said.

Of the 29 dead in Queensland since December 13, only one had received a booster shot.

On Saturday, the Palaszczuk government scrapped its border pass system, and the requirement for interstate visitors to produce a negative PCR or rapid antigen test before arriving in the Sunshine State.

Education Minister Grace Grace defended the late start to the school year, to avoid the predicted omicron peak early next month.

Queensland students were meant to return to classrooms just before Australia Day on January 26. The Palaszczuk government delayed the start for most pupils until February 7, and planned to extend the school year by a week.

But after negotiations with the teachers union, the proposed extra week has been scrapped and school will finish on December 9.

“I’m confident they [teachers] can deliver the content in the condensed school year,” Ms Grace said. “Students will also not be affected by the delay to the start of the school year.”

Remote learning for grades 11 and 12 will start on January 31, but lower grades will have another week off school.

Ms Grace said teachers who were unvaccinated when school returned would be issued a show-cause notice asking why they should keep their jobs.

“We have more than ample relief teachers to cover them, and if by a certain date they don’t meet that mandate then they will be stood down without pay,” she said.

The Queensland government is also keen to get children aged between five and 11 vaccinated before they start the school year.

But many parents have been frustrated with attempts to book vaccinations at pharmacies or GPs, who said they were still unable to get a reliable supply.

There have also been long queues at Queensland Health’s mass vaccination clinic in South Brisbane.