An infectious diseases specialist, who played a leading role in the medical response on board the Diamond Princess in Japan in 2020, has been named Queensland’s new chief health officer (CHO). 

Dr John Gerrard is currently Gold Coast University Hospital’s infectious diseases director.

He predicted that COVID-19 outbreaks would come to Queensland once borders reopened, but he was confident that the state’s hospitals would be ready, albeit under strain.

He said it was a “profound honour” to take up the CHO role after what he believed was an unprecedented pandemic response in Queensland.