Sunshine Coast, Noosa Covid-19: Region records almost 6000 infections

An infectious diseases expert has slammed governments saying they have “lost control of the pandemic” as the Sunshine Coast is on the verge of recording 6000 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

An infectious diseases expert has slammed the federal and state governments’ handling of the Omicron wave claiming “economic” decisions were made to address a “health problem”.

With the Sunshine Coast’s official Covid-19 infections nearing 6000 cases, University of the Sunshine Coast expert Matt Mason has taken aim at the way both levels of government had “lost control” of the virus.

More than 2000 cases have been recorded on the Sunshine Coast since Friday, taking the total number of confirmed infections to nearly 6000.

The region recorded new 377 cases overnight on Sunday, which takes the total number of cases to 5993, however these numbers are thought to be grossly underestimated.

The Sunshine Coast’s confirmed cases timeline from Friday was as follows: Friday: 3921 cases, Saturday: 4531, Sunday: 5616.

Mr Mason said the testing system was broken which would create major problems for months to come.

He said he was angry at the position Australia was now in.

A Sunshine Coast infectious diseases expert has slammed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s handling of the Omicron strain. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“For two years we have controlled it well, applied the brakes when needed, opened up when appropriate, but prior to Christmas, we removed the brakes altogether and we weren’t prepared,” Mr Mason said.

“We needed the rapid tests in place, needed a way to report it and ultimately this was foreseeable.

“We are unfortunately seeing the results of taking an economical approach to a health problem.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last week defended the decision to open the borders as part of the “national plan” because Omicron would have come in regardless.

“It is eventually going to be throughout Australia,” she said at the time.

“People wanted to see their family and friends and loved ones.

“Grandparents had not seen their children or grandchildren for years, sometimes since they had been born.”

Mr Mason said families had suffered as a result.

He said issues included bare supermarket shelves, seven hour waits for PCR tests, the sheer lack of rapid antigen testing and the pause of elective surgery.

“We are failing to look after society, people aren’t getting the care they need,” Mr Mason said.

“Queensland as a community has worked very hard to control it, but it feels like the work we did to keep people safe seems to have been disrespected, thrown away.

“Look around, people are either sick, close contacts or scared to put themselves or loved ones at risk.”

Mr Mason said the Queensland Government’s call to delay schools returning by two weeks was the right move despite the “hardship and disruption” it would create for families.

Dr John Gerrard during a Covid-19 update on Monday, January 10. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland recorded 9581 new cases overnight, including more than 3000 from RAT kits.

However, the state is still waiting on some results from private pathologists.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said 90 per cent of the cases were of the Omicron variant, which he said had taken over.

Mr Mason predicted the situation to worsen.

“It’s not just about Covid, this is affecting the health system as a whole,” he said.

Dr Gerrard supported Ms Palaszczuk’s stance, saying keeping the borders closed would not have stopped Omicron.

“This virus is extremely contagious,” he said.

“This virus would be here whether we opened the borders or not.

“There is never a good time for a pandemic, but if you’re going to have it, having it in summer when schools are on vacation, so that’s as good as it’s going to get.

“The decision to open the borders, it was before my time, but I fully support it.”