Sunshine Coast, Noosa Covid-19: One new death, 800 cases recorded

More than 800 new infections and a confirmed Covid death have been recorded for the Sunshine Coast and Noosa overnight taking the region’s case numbers to nearly 20,000.

Eight people have been confirmed to have died from Covid-19 on the Sunshine Coast since the start of the pandemic, Queensland Health data has shown.

The latest figures showed the region recorded one new death on Sunday, January 23 taking the total number to eight.

There were 820 new cases recorded overnight, taking the region’s total number of confirmed infections to 19,686.

Statewide there were 10 deaths recorded and almost 12,000 new Covid-19 cases.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath speaks to media about the latest Covid-19 update. Picture: Dan Peled

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said three of the people who died were unvaccinated, with one of those aged in their 30s.

Dr Gerrard said none of the 10 people had received booster shots.

There are now 863 people in hospital statewide with the virus, with 47 in intensive care – 14 of which are on ventilators.

It comes after Sunshine Coast health experts predicted that the Omicron wave would mean a rise in deaths.

Local Medical Association Sunshine Coast president Dr Roger Faint said there would be more “weeks of hell” to come based on Omicron’s tracking in South Africa.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath again urged eligible residents to come forward to receive Covid vaccines and booster shots.

“This is not easy knowing people are going to lose their lives from this virus,” Ms D’Ath said.

The data showed more than 252,000 vaccines had been administered across the Sunshine Coast.