Sunshine Coast Covid-19: New case recorded brings total to five active cases

Another new Covid-19 case has been detected in the Sunshine Coast community, part of 22 overnight, as the Omicron variant ‘rapidly escalates’ throughout the state.

A new Covid-19 case has been detected in the Sunshine Coast community – one of 22 detected across the state overnight.

Speaking at Thursday’s Covid-19 press conference, Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said there were cases detected in Brisbane’s south, the Darling Downs, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, West Moreton and Wide Bay.

It takes the total number of active cases in Queensland to 67.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the majority of the cases were from interstate. Picture: Adam Head

According to Queensland Health’s website, the Sunshine Coast now has five active cases and that number is expected to rise today, after having only two active cases recorded late last week.

Ms D’Ath said most of the new cases had been infectious in the community for between one and seven days.

“This virus is rapidly escalating,” Ms D’Ath said of the Omicron variant.

“Unvaccinated people have a much higher chance of contracting this virus and ending up in the ICU.

“We can see this virus is popping up everywhere, there is nowhere to hide.”

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said the growing case numbers across the state were expected and would continue to grow.

He said 12 of today’s cases were linked to interstate travel – all were vaccinated.

“We want to slow the spread of the virus to give people the opportunity to get their third dose of the vaccine,” Dr Gerrard said.

He said all patients in Queensland who had Omicron weren’t sick.

It comes after a man infected with the virus spent five days in the Sunshine Coast community earlier this month.

The man visited a Eumundi hotel and a supermarket and bottle shop at Coolum while infectious.

Bunnings Maroochydore and IGA Buddina were also listed as exposure sites by Queensland Health.