Sunshine Coast, Noosa Covid: 200 new cases as peak fast approaching

The Sunshine Coast has edged closer to the peak of the Omicron wave after two successive days of low infections but health authorities have warned the ‘peak is not the end’

In a sign that the Sunshine Coast is approaching the peak of the Omicron wave, the region has recorded two successive days of relatively low Covid-19 numbers.

There were 292 new infections reported on Tuesday morning, on top of 417 on Monday after two weeks of daily case numbers being near or more than 1000.

The latest figures takes the region’s total to 20,395.

The region has recorded eight deaths from the virus to date.

Statewide 11 people have died after contracting Covid-19 in Queensland while another 9546 new cases have been recorded

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said there were now 928 people in hospital – a “significant rise” from the 878 yesterday as Queensland approaches its general Omicron peak.

Fifty-one people are in ICU and 13 are on ventilators.

Of the 11 deaths, one person was in their 50s, one in their 60s, two in their 70s, three in their 80s and four in their 90s.

Four of those people were unvaccinated, one person had one dose, six were double vaccinated. None had their booster shot.

“The good news in most of the world … is we’ve seen a steady rise in cases over about one month followed by a steady fall,” Dr Gerrard said.

Dr John Gerrard said the Sunshine Coast was due to hit the peak by early February. Picture: Richard Walker

Dr Gerrard said he expected regional areas like Cairns and the Sunshine Coast to hit the peak of the virus by February.

He stressed that the peak did not mean the end.

“There will be a number of weeks before the end,” he said.

It comes after Local Medical Association Sunshine Coast president Dr Roger Faint predicted weeks of Covid pain to come, including more people in the ICU and further deaths.

Sunshine Coast primary health network senior manager Robb Major said vaccinations were the best way to reduce the severity of the virus and slow its spread.

He said a booster dose of the vaccine also offered further protection.