Mackay Isaac Whitsunday positive Covid-19 cases update
The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region has surpassed 4000 active Covid-19 cases as health authorities warn the state’s peak is still two weeks away. LATEST LOCAL FIGURES >>
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There are 324 new Covid-19 cases, taking the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region to 4031 in total across the three regions.
This comes as the state records it deadliest day with more than 23,000 active new cases while three people, all who were unvaccinated, lost their lives.
Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard has warned Queensland’s peak is still about two weeks away.
Of the 324 new cases in Mackay, 12 are in the Covid-19 ward at Mackay Base hospital and 37 are in its virtual ward.
“We are going to see steady growth until we reach a peak some time in the next two weeks but because it is a decentralised state we are going to get peaks at different times in different regions,” Dr Gerrard said.
Thursday, January 13, 2022
The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region is inching towards 4000 active Covid cases ahead of Queensland opening its borders to all domestic travellers whether they tested positive or not.
The region recorded 319 new cases in the past 24 hours to Thursday, bringing the total to 3704.
Four new cases were admitted into Mackay Base Hospital’s Covid-19 ward bringing the total number of in-house patients to 13, while 37 cases are being treated through a virtual ward.
The figures come as news Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the borders would open from 1am Saturday, January 15 for domestic travellers regardless of their Covid-19 status.
She said this meant anyone coming domestically into Queensland by road or air would not need to show their border pass.
Queensland is set to hit the 90 per cent double dose vaccination rate by the end of next week.
On Thursday, Mackay Hospital and Health Service said the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region had recorded 319 new cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the total number of active cases to 3704 active cases.
Four new cases have been admitted into Mackay Base Hospital’s Covid-19 Ward bringing the total number of in-house patients to 13 while 37 cases are being treated through a virtual ward.
Wednesday, January 12, 2022:
On Wednesday, health authorities announced they were working with multiple aged care facilities across the Mackay Hospital and Health Service as 452 new positive cases were reported throughout the region.
It pushed the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday total to 3458 active cases, as the state recorded 22,069 new cases overnight with chief health officer Dr John Gerrard warning those unvaccinated were “nine times more likely to end up in hospital”.
COVAX lead and executive director of nursing and midwifery Julie Rampton said the number of positive cases across MHHS had not yet peaked “so we can reasonably expect case numbers to increase”.
Of the region’s latest cases, 11 were in the Covid-19 ward at Mackay Base Hospital and 38 were in its virtual ward.
“The Public Health Unit is working with a number of residential aged care facilities in our region with both residents and staff unwell,” Ms Rampton said.
“We are seeing evidence of community transmission throughout the health service and people may be unaware that they are carrying and transmitting the virus.
“Both staff and patients have tested positive so please rethink your need to visit a loved one in aged care, even if you are feeling well.”
Mackay HHS did a total of 567 COVID-19 tests on January 11.
Tuesday, January 11, 2022:
On Tuesday there were 629 new Covid cases across Mackay Whitsunday Isaac, bringing the region’s total tally to 3006 active patients.
The latest figure was a huge spike from the 110 cases on Monday as the state recorded 20,566 cases in a single day.
Ms Rampton said seven of the new cases were in the Covid-19 ward at Mackay Base Hospital, while 43 were in the hospital’s virtual ward.
“We believe the increase is due to a data backlog being resolved,” she said.
The data is a combination of PCR testing done by MHHS, private pathology providers and home RAT results people lodged online.
A total of 551 Covid tests were done within MHHS region on Monday.
“We continue to ask people to come forward for testing if they have any symptoms of COVID-19,” Ms Rampton said.
chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said the numbers of cases were expected to climb considerably higher before plateauing in early February, based on mathematical modelling.
As of today there were 27 people in intensive care units across the state, six of who were on ventilators.
“The next three weeks will be tough. There will be a lot of people admitted to hospital, there will be significantly more intensive care admissions than what we see now,” Dr Gerrard said.
He and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath slammed reports of “Covid parties” within the state by those seeking herd immunity as “utterly ridiculous” and irresponsible.
“What would they say to our health workers who have to look after the people in ICU,” Ms D’Ath said.
“What to do they say to the family members of those who end up in hospital because they’ve been so reckless and they’re happy to get Covid and spread it to others.
“That’s who I think about when I go to sleep every night … people who end up in hospital. and who may very well lose their lives because of this virus, all because of something that you can control and you choose not to.”
Monday, January 10, 2022:
The Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region has recorded 110 positive Covid-19 cases overnight to Monday, a significant drop compared to the daily average of 300 cases the previous week.
The additional reported cases take the region’s total number to 2403, with six people treated in Mackay Base Hospital and 51 in the hospital’s virtual ward.
Ms Rampton has warned the low numbers recorded in the past 24 hours were not indicative of fewer positive cases in the community.
“These figures under represent the amount of Covid-19 across our region as know many people are using Rapid Antigen Tests,” Ms Rampton said.
“While there were fewer new cases notified by PCR testing in the past 24 hours, this does not mean there is less COVID-19 in our communities.”
Ms Rampton said health authorities had seen a recent incursion of Covid-19 into vulnerable groups such as the elderly.
“While we have not declared an outbreak at a residential aged care facility, we are monitoring case numbers very carefully at more than one facility,” she said.
Ms Rampton warned the community to reconsider gathering in large social settings to help protect these vulnerable groups of people.
“Now is not the time to have parties or group celebrations. These social occasions must be sacrificed to keep the more vulnerable people in our community well,” she said.
“While the majority of our cases are recovering at home, we are seeing more people who are experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath.”
Anyone who has tested positive on a Rapid Antigen Test is urged to fill out the Queensland Health form here.
Mackay HHS conducted a total of 551 Covid-19 tests on January 9, 2022.
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