Mackay hit as post-Easter Covid case wave arrives

Just as restrictions ease, a new wave is building across the region, sweeping newborns, children and adults back into hospitals.

A child with Covid is admitted to Mackay Base Hospital child adolescent unit almost every day as a new post-Easter Covid wave escalates across the region.

The wave is hitting children of all ages.

Newborn twins were hospitalised on Monday and paramedics responded to a three-year-old child suffering from the virus on Tuesday.

It comes as Mackay Hospital and Health Service admitted a single day record number of inpatients with the virus this week.

In earlier months, the network registered about 10 Covid inpatients a day, but the numbers have climbed dramatically since Easter.

Mackay HHS recorded 18 inpatients on Monday and 22 on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, another 20 patients presented to hospital.

There is another 43 patients in the virtual ward.

The region now counts 359 active cases.

Mackay HHS executive director for Covid Julie Rampton. Picture: Maxwell O'Driscoll

Mackay Hospital and Health Service Covid-19 executive director Julie Rampton has acknowledged vaccination rates are declining.

“We’re still trying to strongly encourage people to get their booster dose,” she said.

Mackay Base Paediatric specialist Dr Gopan Hariharan said the most common Covid symptoms in children resembled viral respiratory infections.

“In most cases they have a mild illness and recover within a few days,” he said.

“One of the most frequent presentations is in the form of croup or bronchiolitis.

“Fortunately, we have not had any children in Mackay with a significant illness requiring intensive care.

Student In Nursing Matthew Vella working on the Covid-19 Ward at Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Contributed

“Children with respiratory infections and test positive for Covid are treated using standard guidelines, ex steroids for moderate to severe croup, oxygen and hydration for bronchiolitis.

“The clinical course of the illness is similar to other viral infections and in most cases the children only require monitoring for any deterioration.”

Dr Hariharan said the best way to protect young children against Covid was through vaccination and for the adults around them to be vaccinated.

“Vaccination is available for children aged five and up and is free, safe and effective,” he said.

“In cases of having children who are too young to be vaccinated, adults having the vaccination will help children from getting infected,” he said.

“This is in addition to adults taking precautions in terms of hand washing and maintaining safe distances.”

Dr Hariharan said most children would be well within two to seven days, but serious complications could arise two to six weeks later with Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.

“These children could present with shock, ongoing high-grade temperatures, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, rash or symptoms related to body organs,” he said.

“Therefore, it is important to have ongoing surveillance for any concerning symptoms.

“Any respiratory symptoms in a child warrants testing for Covid such as a cold or blocked nose, breathing difficulty or a high temperature.

“Once a child tests positive, it’s recommended to seek medical advice from your GP.

“The hospital specialists can be contacted if the GP is concerned.

“If the child has an underlying complex medical condition such as cystic fibrosis, immunodeficiency or complex heart condition, it’s also important to get urgent specialist medical advice.”

Dr Hariharan said Mackay Base had a virtual ward for children, which meant they could receive regular medical reviews.

He also encouraged pregnant women to get vaccinated.

“There are occasions where an expecting mother has Covid and there is potential for babies to be affected,” he said.

“We encourage all pregnant women to be vaccinated, it’s safe and effective in preventing severe illness and ICU admission.

“If an unvaccinated pregnant women contracts Covid there is a higher chance of the baby being born premature resulting in admission to the special care nursery for problems related to prematurity.”

Across the state, there are more than 43,000 active cases, though health experts fear the true number of infections could be “10 times more” than the official figures.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Queensland Chair Dr Bruce Willett said under-reporting and false RAT results had likely distorted the true picture of the new wave.

“If you are sick with flu-like symptoms it’s best to stay home, regardless of RAT test results,” he said.

“We know that there are problems with people not using the tests properly.

“Earlier Covid variants had different symptoms than Omicron.

“It’s hard to tell the difference between Omicron and the flu.

“Compared with Delta, Omicron is more likely to cause a sore throat and less likely to be associated with the loss of taste or smell.

“Omicron symptoms are very similar to influenza – runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing.”

There are 564 people being treated for Covid in public and private hospitals with 20 in intensive care.

Charmaine Pangi, a 57-year-old ­Indigenous health worker from Bowen, contracted the virus in January and spent a lonely time in the Covid-19 ward at Mackay Base Hospital.

There was more than one moment she thought she was done for as she struggled to breathe in the Covid-19 ward at Mackay Base Hospital.

Registered nurse Dawn Medan tends to Covid-positive patient Charmaine Pangi at Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Contributed

Ms Pangi’s biggest fear was dying alone as she lay in bed sucking in as much oxygen as she could.

“I thought who would hear me gasping for breath? What a messed-up way to go, all on my own. Where’s my mob, my family and my friends?” she said.

“I knew I could press a buzzer and the nurse would come, but I didn’t want to go without my people around me.”

Ms Pangi is a kidney transplant recipient and immunosuppressed, making her more vulnerable to illness.

“I’ve been to hell and back with kidney pain, but this Covid pain was something else,” she said.

“There’s no way to describe that horrible feeling of not being able to get enough air into your lungs.”