Meet the infectious disease expert who was first to treat coronavirus patients in Queensland

Meet the first doctor in the state to come face-to-face with coronavirus when it landed in Queensland. Luckily for us, he’d been preparing for the moment for a long time.

HE’S the man that the Health Minister says Queensland is lucky to have in the fight against COVID-19 and he has been there from the very beginning.

Dr John Gerrard was the first doctor in the state to come face-to-face with patients who tested positive to the deadly coronavirus.

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The infectious disease expert isn’t scared to admit he was afraid when five Chinese tourists, including an eight year old boy, were diagnosed in the beginning of February.

The Gold Coast doctor has been preparing for a pandemic all his life, he has travelled the world as an expert in his field.

He was hands on in the ebola outbreak in Africa and was flown to Japan to advise their health authorities on the handling of the coronavirus.

Dr John Gerrard at Gold Coast University Hospital. PictureL Tim Marsden

But he says infectious disease is a frightening enemy and until you have treated your first case and realise that the patients are just normal people, only then can you get rid of some of the fear.

“Imagination can be more powerful than reality,” he said.

Now that he’s got his head around this virus crisis he feels confident Queensland is ahead of the curve thanks to the procedures that were put in place before the coronavirus even hit.

“It can be done. If you play your part we will win. Every single Queenslander must play their part by following isolation and hygiene guidelines. What a tragedy it would be if people lost their jobs and then didn’t work together to wipe out this disease. That would be a double tragedy,” Dr Gerrard said.

“But I think Australians have the spirit in them to do this,” he said.

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles is highly impressed by the expertise of the Gold Coast medic.

“I’ve met Dr John Gerrard several times now and it is clear that Queensland is very lucky to have him on our team,” he said.

Dr Gerrard said that his first patients all recovered well from the virus, although they were very worried about one male patient who was very ill.

Dr John Gerrard says Queensland has had a “text book” response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Picture: Tim Marsden

“This virus will hit people differently. While the elderly are more at risk it could just as easily be a 30 year old person.

“We now know that the incubation period is commonly five to six days which is quite striking.

“Most people will have mild symptoms of a cough and fever that will last a few days. Some will develop viral pneumonia and be breathless, some could be sick for weeks and there will be those that end up on life support.

“But I am proud to say that the response to all of this from our health authorities, doctors, nurses, labs and x-ray departments has been text book,” Dr Garrett said.