Cairns Covid peak declining but authorities say still a few unknowns

As Covid numbers continue to decline health authorities believe the peak is tracking downwards but there are still concerns about the unknowns as winter nears and more deaths are recorded.

AS Covid numbers continue to decline, health authorities believe the peak is tracking downwards but there are still concerns about the unknowns as winter nears.

CHHHS infectious disease specialist Dr Simon Smith said cases were tracking downwards.

“Our peak cases were a lot less than what we expected and that’s really down to the fact that so many people came down and got vaccinated,” he said.

But Dr Smith said there were still too many unknowns moving forward.

“There are still a few unknowns, we don’t know if there is going to be another peak of cases particularly as we come into winter,” he said.

“The other thing that may happen is we get a large flu season so we are tackling both things like influenza and Covid-19 at the same time and that could really put a stress on hospitals and health services.”

Friday marks the one year anniversary of the first vaccine distributed across Cairns, however Dr Smith said there had been a drop in vaccination numbers. The Cairns region has reached 91.6 per cent second dose and 46 per cent boosters.

“I don’t want people to become complacent. There are still cases of Covid-19 out there, we are still seeing people come into hospital and potentially people who are unwell,” he said.

Health authorities said there had been a drop in vaccination numbers. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The people we are seeing who are unwell are generally unvaccinated or have only had two doses and haven’t yet come forward for the third.”

There are 14 in hospital and one person in ICU. 30 deaths have been recorded across the region, an increase of three deaths from Monday. CHHHS executive director of Covid-19 vaccinations Dr Don Mackie said there had been a drop in vaccinations.

“Younger adults seems to be getting infected more than older groups and that’s the group that we know haven’t really picked up on the boosters,” he said.

Originally published as Cairns Covid peak declining but authorities say still a few unknowns