Sunshine Coast, Noosa Covid-19: Two deaths recorded for region

13 deaths, 25,000 cases, 45 in hospital, three in ICU: New data has confirmed the brutal toll Omicron has unleashed on the Sunshine Coast as experts ponder Omicron’s wave.

Three people have died from Covid-19 on the Sunshine Coast in as many days while three others are being treated in intensive care units, health authorities have confirmed.

The latest Queensland Health statistics showed 13 people had been confirmed to have died of Covid as of Wednesday, February 2, an increase of three since Sunday.

One of the deaths recorded on the Sunshine Coast is believed to be 64-year-old Yandina woman Felinda Dunlop, however, Queensland Health has refused to confirm due to “patient confidentiality”.

Prior to the Omicron wave, the Sunshine Coast had recorded a single Covid-related death, a 77-year-old Noosaville woman who died in March 2020.

A Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman confirmed the service was caring for 45 positive patients in its hospitals with three in the ICU.

It was understood there had been five people in ICU earlier in the week.

Health authorities say it’s unclear whether the region has reached the peak of the Omicron wave which had been predicted for this week by chief health officer Dr John Gerrard.

Local Medical Association Sunshine Coast president Dr Roger Faint said the region had handled the Omicron variant better than expected.

Dr Faint said the Omicron variant, combined with the high rate of vaccinations, had lessened the severity of other variants like Delta.

Sunshine Coast Local Medical Association president Dr Roger Faint.

It comes after Dr Faint only a fortnight ago had predicted about “six weeks of hell” based on how Omicron had fared in South Africa.

“We are doing better than we thought it seems. We thought the numbers would be much higher,” Dr Faint said on Tuesday.

“It’s hard to know if it’s peaked but we are probably getting towards the worst of it and then hospital numbers should start reducing.

“Omicron swept through and probably affected one in four. While Omicron is severe it and the vaccinations have provided a level of protection.

“Certainly by the end of March it might start to ease off.”

Dr Faint stressed that boosters were essential to maintain protection from any form of the virus.

He said his practice was still struggling to keep up with the demand while he knew of several aged care facilities which had been forced into lockdown.

“Boosters are essential. They give a really impressive immune response. Immunity wanes quickly after two shots,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter which one (booster shot) they give a really strong immunity.”

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said the child under 10 had a very serious and rare underlying medical condition. Picture Adam Head

There were nearly 10,000 cases recorded statewide including hundreds on the Sunshine Coast, taking the region’s total number to 25,051.

A child under the age of 10 was one of 16 deaths recorded statewide on Wednesday.

Dr Gerrard said the child under 10 had a very serious and rare underlying medical condition.

Of the 16 deaths, one was under 10, two were in their 50s, five in their 70s, three in their 80s and five in their 90s.

Six were unvaccinated, two had one dose of the vaccine, five were double vaccinated and two had booster shots.

There have now been 218 deaths recorded in Queensland since the Omicron wave in mid-December.