Covid: First Mackay Covid-19 patient admitted into Intensive Care Unit
A Covid patient has been admitted to Mackay Base Hospital’s Intensive care unit for the first time as the region records 276 new cases.
Mackay
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A Covid-19 patient has been admitted into Mackay Base Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit as the region records 276 new cases.
It is the first time a positive case in the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region has required treatment in the ICU.
Mackay Hospital and Health Services executive director Julie Rampton said Mackay Base Hospital was treating a further 13 patients in its in-house ward with 49 others being cared for in the hospital’s Virtual Covid Ward.
Ms Rampton encouraged the region’s residents to continue testing for Covid-19 if they were showing symptoms.
“The Mackay Showgrounds drive-through testing clinic and Bowen, Proserpine and Moranbah hospitals now have Rapid Antigen Tests available for eligible people,” Ms Rampton said.
“In the past 24 hours a total of 556 PCR tests were done by the health service and 84 home RAT kits were provided.
“RATs are not available for other people whose employers ask them to show they are negative.
“Mackay HHS has a sufficient number of tests to meet the current demand from eligible people.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Friday issued a warning to Queenslanders that ‘things will get worse before they get better’ after 16,031 new cases and 13 more deaths were recorded overnight, as she revealed the eligibility for booster shots will change from Monday.
Thursday
The Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region has recorded 274 new positive cases taking the total number of active cases 2298.
The Mackay Base Hospital is treating 14 in-house patients, with an additional seven cases added to the 44 patients being cared for in the hospital’s virtual ward.
The figures for the total number of active cases has changed significantly from the 5287 reported on Tuesday after the definition of what constituted an active case was revised.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service executive director Julie Rampton explained the new Queensland Health directive.
“The definition of active cases has been changed to cases detected in the past seven days based on sample collection and test date,” Ms Rampton said.
Nine people have died overnight from the virus in Queensland as the state records an additional 16,812 new cases.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said there were now 91,300 active cases across the state.
The Mackay region recorded an additional 590 vaccines administered, taking the total number of dosages in the region to 124,665.
Wednesday
The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday has recorded a total of 207 new cases in the region, a significant drop from the 364 cases recorded on Tuesday.
Queensland Health’s current figures show the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region totalling 4550 active cases.
Mackay itself was host to 2770 cases, the Whitsundays 1450 and Isaac with 334.
The Mackay Base Hospital is treating an additional five patients bringing the total number of in-house patients to 14, with an additional 37 in the virtual ward.
The number of active cases reported in health regions is expected to drop as Queensland Health revises what constitutes an active case, in line with national cabinet.
Queensland itself is nearing 20,000 new cases, recording a total of 19,923 cases in the past 24 hours ahead of the state opening up to vaccinated international travellers from 1am Saturday.
The border opening would mean tourism operators would be able to plan for the return of overseas visitors — a $7 billion industry before the start of the pandemic.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the decision was about creating certainty for people to make travel plans in coming months.
The state recorded an additional 11 deaths, a tragedy Ms Palaszczuk said she did not take lightly.
“Any death is a tragedy, every day I am reminded that each of these deaths during the pandemic is a grandparent, a parent, an aunt or an uncle,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Tuesday
There has been another significant jump in Covid cases across the Mackay health region as Queensland recorded its deadliest day since the pandemic began.
The Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions recorded 364 new positive cases on Tuesday, bringing the total active cases to 5287.
It is a major increase in new cases reported on Monday, when 198 positive results were announced.
Mackay Base Hospital has nine patients in the Covid ward and one receiving treatment at another facility, while 43 are in the virtual ward.
The number of active cases in the Mackay region has continued to increase, with 2613 now in the sugar city.
Whitsundays has 1402 active cases, while Isaac has 318.
Queensland on Tuesday recorded 16 new Covid deaths, as well as 15,962 new positive cases.
The total number of cases across the state has increased to 245,624, with 819 currently in hospital and 50 in intensive care.
Of the people who died, three were in their 70s, eight in their 80s, four in their 90s and one who was older than 100.
Ten people were double vaccinated, two had received one dose of vaccine and four were not vaccinated.
None had received a booster shot.
Chief health officer John Gerrard said there had been 45 Queensland deaths since December.
“The virus does seem to be finding people who haven’t had that third dose,” he said.
“We’re heading towards our peak.”
Mackay residents received 376 doses of vaccinations on Monday.
The total number of jabbed received is currently 123,495.
Mackay Hospital and Health Services has asked for the region’s residents to self-report positive rapid-antigen test results on the Queensland Government website.
Monday, January 17
Mackay has recorded an increase in hospitalised patients as Covid numbers appear to begin to flatten.
The Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions recorded 198 new positive Covid cases on Monday, bringing the total active cases to 4949.
It is a substantial decrease in new cases compared to Friday, when 324 were recorded, but Mackay Hospital and Health Services has warned the number of active cases is likely to change.
Mackay Base Hospital has 13 patients admitted to its Covid ward, while 40 are receiving telehealth treatment through its virtual ward.
While Covid numbers were not updated over the weekend, Mackay, Isaac and Whitsundays has recorded an increase of 918 active cases since Friday.
Mackay has 2415 active cases in the region as of Sunday night, while Whitsundays has 1360 and Isaac 304.
Queensland recorded 15,122 new cases on Monday, with 47 in intensive care units and 702 in hospitals around the state.
The total number of active cases increased to 229,671, while seven Queenslanders died from Covid overnight.
Of the seven deaths, two were in their 80s and five were in their 90s.
Two were unvaccinated and five had been double vaccinated.
None had their booster shot.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said of the 29 deaths since December 13, only one person had received the booster shot.
“It is not worth the risk, the vaccine is available,” she said.
“We want the least amount of people needing to be hospitalised.”
The Mackay region recorded 318 vaccinations on Sunday, bringing the total to 123,116 doses administered.
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