Queensland records deadliest day of Covid pandemic as anti-vaccination protesters march in Canberra

Queensland reported 21 Covid-related deaths on Saturday – the most in a 24-hour period for the state since the pandemic began – while Victoria announced 41 new deaths and New South Wales 18.

The numbers came as an estimated 2,000 people protested against government Covid restrictions such as vaccination mandates in Canberra.

The protests began at Glebe Park in Canberra, moved on to Commonwealth Avenue and reached Parliament House by the afternoon. Riot police followed protesters while ACT Policing warned drivers to avoid the area because of traffic disruptions.

Government MP George Christensen and United Australia party leader Craig Kelly were seen among the marchers, many of whom carried Australian and Eureka Stockade flags.

Protesters have been in Canberra as part of the “Convoy to Canberra” since Monday.

On Friday an illegal camp of protesters, who had been staying on the grounds of the parliamentary triangle, were evicted by ACT police and the Australian federal police.

About 250 vehicles had been parked around the National Library and four cars were towed away from the site after the owners refused to move them.

A 44-year-old man illegally camped in Canberra’s parliamentary triangle was arrested after police found a loaded rifle in his car.

Queensland recorded 8,508 new Covid cases on Saturday. There were 727 patients being treated for coronavirus in the state’s public hospitals – compared with 732 on Friday – and 46 in intensive care.

The state’s chief health officer, John Gerrard, told media he was distressed by the number of older Queenslanders who had died without receiving a third vaccination shot. Only two of Saturday’s 21 fatalities had had a booster and four were unvaccinated.

Two people were aged in their 60s, four in their 70s, 11 in their 80s and four in their 90s. Seven were aged care residents.

“It distresses me greatly every day to be reporting on older Queenslanders who are dying without having received the booster,” Gerrard said. “We know that a third dose is absolutely critical in protecting us, particularly older people, from more serious disease, hospitalisation, intensive care admission and death.”

Overall 134 aged care residents have died in Queensland.

“We know 70% of Queenslanders over the age of 70 have received the booster … and yet over 90% of people who have died [in the state] … are unboosted,” Gerrard said. “There is plenty of booster out there, there is no need to wait … particularly for the elderly.”

In Victoria, there were 687 Covid patients in hospital, 80 of whom were in intensive care, with 31 on a ventilator.

There were 7,810 new Covid cases in the state on Saturday, the lowest daily figure since 2 January when 7,172 infections were reported.

Kate Matson, deputy secretary of Victoria’s health department, said she expected hospitalisations to keep falling but cases to either increase slightly or stabilise, due to increased movement.

“Melbourne is certainly a more buzzing place than it was a couple of months ago,” Matson said, adding the proportion of infections among those 19 and under had risen this week since students returned to classrooms.

A fall in hospital cases has allowed non-urgent elective surgery to resume at 50% of normal levels from Monday in Victorian private hospitals and day procedure centres.

The Victorian health minister, Martin Foley, said a further expansion of elective surgery would depend on updated health advice, taking into account the state’s seven-day rolling average for hospital case figures.

NSW reported 8,389 new Covid infections on Saturday, with 2,337 in hospital, including 152 in intensive care, 70 of which required ventilation.

Health officials said the latest fatalities included 11 men and seven women, with more than half aged in their 80s or 90s. However, two of the 18 who were younger than 65 had both received two vaccine jabs, while another two had been vaccinated three times.

The NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, said that, despite confusing advice, anyone who has had Covid in the past four to six weeks could – and should – have a booster. He said anyone who had not received their third vaccination should get it immediately.

In relation to the rate of third-dose take-up in the state’s aged care facilities, Perrottet conceded it was “not where it should be”.

“It’s a very complex area,” he said of the sector, for which the federal government takes primary responsibility. “It’s not easy.”

The Northern Territory recorded 968 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday and no deaths. An additional 173 cases were added to Friday’s tally – bringing the total number of cases announced on Saturday to 1,141.

Hospitalisations also rose. There were 151 people being treated in hospital with the virus, including four people requiring intensive care.

The numbers came as the NT government announced the outdoor mask mandate would be lifted from 6pm. It was still recommended people over 12 wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing was not possible and the territory’s indoor mask mandate remained in place.

In the ACT, there was one Covid-related death and 372 new cases. There were 63 people being treated in hospital with Covid-19, including one person requiring ventilation.

Tasmania recorded 483 new Covid-19 cases overnight. There were 10 people being treated in hospital, included two people requiring intensive care. There were no new deaths.

The Western Australian premier, Mark McGowan, reported the state had seen 26 new Covid cases, adding residents could now apply for a $320 payment if they had to isolate while waiting for a PCR test result.