Cairns Covid-19: New health data shows every Far North suburb’s cases amid new wave

Fresh data has revealed every FNQ suburb’s Covid infections with a major town having one of the highest concentrations of the virus in Queensland. USE INTERACTIVE MAP

NEW data has revealed every Far North suburb’s Covid infections, with a major town having one of the highest concentrations of the virus anywhere in the state.

It comes as chief health officer Dr John Gerrard told people to “prepare now ” for a new wave of the virus, warning it will only get worse in coming weeks.

A fresh breakdown of the number of PCR-confirmed Covid cases across Far North suburbs from June 1 to July 5 found Mareeba, with 229 confirmed cases, as one of the highest among any Queensland suburb.

A number of Cairns suburbs are recording high number of Covid infections as a third wave hits. Picture: Brendan Radke

Neighbouring town Atherton has 151.

The data found Trinity Beach-Smithfield had the most infections in Cairns with 195, followed by Redlynch with 190, Whitfield – Edge Hill with 145 and nearby Kuranda with 134.

Clifton Beach and Kewarra Beach has 133 confirmed cases.

Further north, Mossman and Daintree both had 88 cases, while tourist jewel Port Douglas sits with 53.

Indigenous community Yarrabah has a relatively low number of PCR confirmed cases compared to other Cairns suburbs with 36.

Gordonvale – Trinity has 102.

Further south, Innisfail has 126 active cases, with Johnstone 83.

In the Cape, the Torres and Cape York Hospital and Health Service has 66 active Covid cases, but none that require hospitalisation.

Torres health service chief executive, Beverley Hamerton, said Weipa had recorded 21 cases with Cooktown 16.

She said laboratory-confirmed influenza cases to date have reached 490.

“It is clear a new wave of COVID-19 is being experienced right across Queensland, at the same time as we are seeing a surge of influenza cases,” she said.

Meanwehile, In the 24 hours to Thursday morning, Queensland recorded 5980 new cases, with the state’s total cases since the pandemic started at 1,328,620.

Of the 697 people currently hospitalised with the virus, 15 are in intensive care, while 92.7 per cent of the state is fully vaccinated.

Dr Gerrard said everyone would know someone in coming weeks who had the new subvariant.

“It’s important for you to prepare now,” he said.

“The good news is that up-to-date vaccination will protect you against severe disease and hospitalisation, and if you are up-to-date the illness that you will get with this virus is likely to be mild.”

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Originally published as Cairns Covid-19: New health data shows every Far North suburb’s cases amid new wave