Cairns Covid: Region records more Covid-19 deaths
Cairns has recorded more Covid deaths but a drop in case numbers as authorities hope the peak may be near for the region.
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CAIRNS has recorded more Covid deaths but a drop in case numbers as authorities hope the peak may be near for the region.
In a 24-hour-period the region recorded 447 new cases. 86 patients were in hospital, 7 were in intensive care and 84 were in the virtual ward. The region recorded three new deaths making it a total of five since the start of the pandemic.
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Tina Chinery said she was hopeful Cairns was near its peak.
“We are really hopeful we are nearing the peak at the moment and very positively we’ve seen a slight drop in cases as well as well as a slight drop in admissions,” she said.
“However, we do know we need to see that for a number of days in a row.”
But Ms Chinery said the peak might last longer than expected with borders opening internationally.
“In terms of Cairns and Hinterland we appear to be tracking as I expected possibly peaking a little bit earlier,” she said.
“What may happen with a change with the borders and also school going back, it has been modelled that the total won’t go down as quick as expected.
“So obviously we are ensuring we have plans in place to deal with Covid in our community for quite a while.”
The region recorded more deaths on Thursday and Ms Chinery said more were expected.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the loved ones involved,” she said.
“We do know there will be more deaths within our region.”
Ms Chinery said most the people in ICU were sick with the Omicron strain.
“What I can say about the people in the intensive care unit they are very very unwell,” she said.
“And really the majority of people in intensive care unit have been there because they have deteriorated with the omicron illness.”
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Originally published as Cairns Covid: Region records more Covid-19 deaths
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