Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie Covid numbers soar amid third wave

Queensland’s devastating third Covid wave has sadly again claimed more lives in the Wide Bay, but Bundaberg has been hit especially hard. Read the latest:

Bundaberg’s aged care Covid death toll has hit seven, according to the latest government data.

New figures from the Federal Government on Monday, August 1, revealed four deaths amid 42 cases of Covid at Blue Care Riverlea, with two deaths amid 64 cases at Palm Lake Care Bargara.

The Blue Care Pioneer Aged Care Facility has so far recorded 36 residential cases, with one death.

Bundaberg’s aged care centres have been the worst-hit in the Wide Bay, accounting for around two-thirds of the region’s total case numbers.

State-wide, there have been 3546 aged care deaths across the nation since the start of the pandemic and 77,370 residential cases.

Elsewhere in the Wide Bay, Cooinda Aged Care Centre eight cases, Anglicare SQ Kirami Home for the Aged recorded 63 cases and Bolton Clarke Baycrest, two cases.

But none of the three sites have recorded deaths.

State-wide, there has been a decline in hospitalisations for Covid, but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said “authorities won‘t be resting” because the peak is expected later in August.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said she was “pleased” to see a reduction in hospitalisations across the state, adding she was hopeful it was a sign of an early peak.

“We’ll just see how it goes over the next few days, but it is promising,” she said.

“This morning I had a briefing that for the first time in a while, we’ve got a reprieve.”

On Tuesday last week, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed during budget estimates the peak of this latest Covid wave is not expected until late August.

“Thankfully, it does not predict an increase in patients in intensive care,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“This is very serious. We know that this is going to be our largest peak.

“So I’m urging Queenslanders where indoors, where possible, please wear a mask.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Debbie Carroll last week described the daunting situation facing health workers who were desperately trying to keep up with soaring Covid numbers amid a shocking flu season.

“Bundaberg and the Wide Bay community is experiencing a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases and there were 64 admitted patients in our hospitals with the condition at 10am (Tuesday) morning,” she said.

Hospital CEO Debbie Carroll has described the dire situation WBHHS staff are doing their best to manage.

“There (were) also up to 131 staff furloughed across the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (on Tuesday).”

Ms Carroll said WBHHS fever clinics had been extended past their planned closure dates in order to improve access to free Covid testing as the region “experiences increasing prevalence within our community”.

“The clinics have been testing an increased number of people as of (Tuesday),” she said.

“WBHHS has also increased Covid-19 bed capacity within our hospitals and has worked with our local private hospitals and residential aged care facilities to maximise our acute inpatient capacity throughout the pandemic.”

Recent weeks have also brought a rise in cases of influenza.

Numbers of Covid cases are spiking in the state.

“Our region has also experienced a significant rise in influenza numbers in recent weeks, with the 2022 calendar year total now standing 698 lab-confirmed positive influenza cases,” Ms Carroll said.

“ This is well above the five-year mean of 294 cases. This does create extra pressure on our services.”

Ms Carroll said staff had been working hard and managing well given the pressure of two serious illnesses circulating in the community at the same time.

“Once again, our hardworking clinical and non-clinical WBHHS staff are standing up to the challenge, as they’ve done throughout the pandemic, and WBHHS commends them for their ongoing dedication, adaptability and professionalism,” she said.

Sixty-six Wide Bay locals have lost their lives to Covid since the start of the pandemic.

There were no Covid patients in the Gympie Hospital at the time of publishing, but eight people were in hospital with the flu.

For Gympie Hospital, Covid numbers are significantly lower but community members are being urged not to be complacent.

“Influenza is a highly infectious respiratory virus that can cause severe disease,” the spokesman said.

“People sometimes think of influenza as just a bad cold, but it is a considerably worse disease that can be deadly.

“Influenza can be particularly severe for children under the age of five, adults over the age of 65, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who are pregnant and people with certain chronic diseases, especially lung disease, but really anyone can be seriously affected by Influenza.”

Queenslanders are being urged to contact their pharmacist or GP to arrange a flu shot.

“Other important and simple ways to help prevent Influenza spreading include washing your hands regularly or using hand sanitiser, practising good cough etiquette, and staying home and away from others when you have symptoms,” the spokespersons aid.

The health service warns that symptoms of Covid and the flu can be “quite similar” and that contracting both viruses at once can lead to more severe outcomes, making testing essential.

People in the Wide Bay are urged to get vaccinated. Picture: iStock

“If you are more than three months from your last Covid vaccination, a booster may protect you from the current surge of Covid cases occurring in the community,” the spokesman said.

“The commonwealth has currently expanded the age groups eligible for booster doses. Booster doses are effective in reducing the risk of serious Covid infection.”

CQU diseases expert Dr William Mude predicted a bad season for Covid and flu in the region, with concerns for those in aged care.

In March, CQU lecturer Dr William Mude told the Bundaberg NewsMail he was concerned about the potential for Covid and influenza to play off each other.

“I am concerned about a possible complacency in testing for Covid-19 and the implications this will have for people getting tested when they have flu-like symptoms during a flu season,” he said.

“This can lead to the spread of either Covid or flu in the community.”

Dr Mude predicted elderly people in aged care would be particularly at risk and recommended vaccination as a precaution.

Three people have died from Covid in one Bundaberg aged care facility. Picture: Istock.

Aged care concerns

The most recent report into Covid outbreaks in residential aged care facilities revealed the following stats in the Wide Bay region:

• Palm Lake Care Bargara, 59 resident cases, two resident deaths, 40 staff cases.
• Blue Care Pioneer Aged Care Facility, 21 resident cases, 13 staff cases.
• Blue Care Riverlea Aged Care Facility, 39 resident cases, three resident deaths, 18 staff cases.
• Cooinda Aged Care Facility, eight resident cases, four staff cases.
• Anglicare SQ Kirami Home for the Aged Queensland, 29 resident cases, 25 staff cases
• Bolton Clarke Baycrest Queensland, three resident cases, two staff cases.
• Japara Gympie Views Queensland, six resident cases, four staff cases. Parklands Aged Care Facility and Retirement Village, three resident cases, 11 staff cases.