Covid Qld: State’s positive cases share their stories

As Queensland’s Covid-19 cases soar, some have shared their experiences – revealing people can react quite differently to the virus.

Queenslanders with Covid-19 believe the vaccine saved them from serious illness and intensive care as they detail their experiences with the disease – from mild cases to symptoms that warranted calling triple-0.

The Courier-Mail today shares the stories of some of the 8536 Queenslanders who currently have Covid-19 – and the person who experienced the mildest symptoms was the only one who had received their booster shot.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard yesterday stressed most people who test positive for Covid-19 will be “relatively well” – especially in those who are vaccinated.

Tara Anne Franklin, who is currently isolating with her parents and children in Albany Creek, said she was surprised her parents were both relatively asymptomatic while she had cold and flu-like symptoms.

Tara Franklin (right) and stepmother Jenny Chubb. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Ms Franklin, 41, said her parents tested positive two hours before their return flight to NSW but her two children, aged nine and 12, had tested negative.

“I had lower back pain, cough, fatigue, cold and flu-like symptoms,” she said.

“It felt like I had a chest infection but my parents had mild symptoms.”

Ms Franklin said she has not been told the strain of her virus but knows lower back pain is unique to the Omicron variant.

Stepmother Jenny Chubb, 65, said being triple-vaccinated with her booster shot could have been the difference in the severity of their symptoms.

“I felt the best out of everyone who tested positive in the household – I was surprised my stepdaughter felt so unwell especially when I showed only mild symptoms,” she said.

“Prior to our results, I thought Tara would have been the only positive case.”

Ali Coverdale, 31, tested positive to Covid-19 on December 23 and since then has experienced “pretty much every symptom on the list”.

“It started with body aches, exhaustion and a sore throat,” she said.

“Then it developed into a headache, runny nose, cough, trouble breathing, dizziness, leg aches, and sneezing.

“Then it got to the worst part and I had loss of smell, loss of taste and loss of appetite, with chest pains and coughing fits.”

Ms Coverdale said she received a text from Queensland Health last Friday and was instructed to isolate for 10 days.

“Unfortunately the experiences people are having are vastly different,” she said.

“My best friend who was at the same venue as me on Saturday night went and got tested after I told her I was positive, and she found out she is positive. But she is asymptomatic.

“We now know of about six people who were all at the same gig who have tested positive.”

Ms Coverdale will receive her booster shot in January but said her body’s response to Covid-19 shows vaccines did work.

“I’m certain without the vaccine I would have ended up in the ICU,” she said.

Inala resident Barbara Axelsen. Picture: David Clark

Inala resident Barbara Axelsen found out she was Covid-positive while being loaded into an ambulance to the Princess Alexandra Hospital last Thursday.

Ms Axelsen said she was “very unwell” from last Monday and got tested on Tuesday because she could not book a doctor’s appointment without a negative test.

“It’s scary living alone and not being able to get yourself to the doctor,” she said.

“I called the ambulance at 6am on Thursday and waited two hours for them to get here... I nearly passed out on the toilet because I was so dehydrated but received a call from Queensland Health as I was being loaded into the ambulance.”

Ms Axelsen, who left quarantine at midnight on Thursday, said her symptoms were “very severe”.

“I have no idea where I got it from or what strain of Covid it was but thankfully none of my close contacts have tested positive.”

Dr Gerrard said: “Most people, particularly those of us who have been vaccinated, have received at least two doses of the vaccine, will be relatively well.”

WHAT TO DO IF YOU TEST POSITIVE TO COVID-19

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard’s instructions for cases who don’t need emergency care:
1. Isolate and urge anyone who lives with you to get tested and isolate.
2. Answer five survey questions about your symptoms and situation when Queensland Health calls. They will determine if you can care for yourself at home or need to go to hospital.
3. Tell people you have been in contact with recently. It’s important they get tested and quarantine.
4. Organise the things you need while in quarantine, such as contactless delivery of food and medications.
5. Look after yourself by keeping a symptom diary and keep healthy and active at home.