Queensland hospitals rescheduling elective surgery, as COVID-19 continues to spread

Queensland hospitals are rescheduling some elective surgeries, as a third COVID-19 wave challenges the state's health system.

The state has recorded 5726 new cases of COVID-19 and another 13 deaths on Friday.

There are 714 people in hospital, 17 people in ICU and 14 people on ventilators.

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Deputy premier Steven Miles said elective surgery schedules were managed at a hospital-by-hospital level and were impacted by factors such as the number of COVID-19 patients and staff on sick leave.

"The most urgent cases will still receive their treatment," Miles said.

"All hospitals will have some re-scheduling of procedures, that happens day-to-day even without these kinds of situations."

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Miles said he believed all of the state's hospitals are "well-prepared" for surges, as consecutive waves move through communities.

"They are putting in place those surge plans that have been refined and worked on over the last two-and-a-half-odd years but that is having an impact, particularly on planned care," he said.

Across the state, there are currently 40,191 active cases of the virus.

Flu numbers have also continued to rise, with another four deaths reported this morning.