Another 14 people have died with COVID-19 and 5977 new cases recorded in Queensland as the state announced a $200 million package targeting international airlines.
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The cash injection is a joint venture between the state's international airports and the Queensland government, as it looks to fast-track tourism recovery.
"We've been supporting the tourism economy, especially those businesses that have been affected by COVID during the pandemic, to the tune of a billion dollars, but this is that added incentive," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Friday.
It's expected the package will translate to 5.31 million airline seats per year as well as 24,100 jobs annually by 2025.
Markets targeted include Singapore, Japan, South Korea, the USA, Canada, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
"I know that businesses and especially our tourism industry have been doing it very tough in Queensland during this pandemic," the premier said.
"Now is the time to start looking to these markets to encourage international tourists back into Queensland."
Together with an earlier announcement that international tourists can return from February 21, CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said the funding confirmation made it one of the best weeks for Brisbane Airport.
"Global competition for airlines is ferocious, we're competing with the whole world and we're a little bit behind other countries because they opened earlier than we did," he said.
Meanwhile, Heath Minister Yvette D'Ath has flagged her support for a review into aged care and says she knows of "about a dozen" homes that are probably on watch lists because of outbreaks and staffing levels.
Of the deaths reported on Friday, 10 were aged care residents and all were aged between their 60s and 90s.
"Seeing as it's regulated and funded by the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth took responsibility for the rollout of vaccinations and managing outbreaks in aged care that...should be a national review," Ms D'Ath said.
The latest cases come as the state releases data on the rate of infection among school-aged children following the return of face-to-face learning.
Including PCR results and self reported rapid antigen tests, a total of 1149 children aged 5-17 have tested positive in the past 24 hours.
"For the most part in children, this is a mild illness," Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said on Friday.
"It's not a surprise and we're not unduly concerned about it."
The number of patients with COVID-19 in the state's hospitals continues to drop "significantly".
There are currently 535 patients with the virus in public hospitals, 43 of whom are in ICU.
Another 49 patients are in private hospitals.
Booster rates are increasing as patient numbers drop, with 60 per cent of eligible Queenslanders receiving a third jab.
Australian Associated Press
