Peregian Springs aged care in lockdown as Noosa, Sunshine Coast Covid cases climb

Noosa businesses, including a supermarket and aged care home have been dealt a major blow as Covid cases continue to climb while Queensland moves away from listing exposure sites. LATEST LOCAL DETAILS

A beloved Noosa restaurant, a supermarket and an aged care home are the latest businesses to be impacted as Covid-19 hinders staffing numbers across the region.

The Sunshine Coast recorded 90 new Covid cases overnight, after 1589 new Covid cases were recorded in Queensland on Wednesday.

This brings the total number of cases on the Sunshine Coast to 636, with 236 active and 132 fully recovered.

Coles Supermarkets revealed on their website on Tuesday their North Shore store in Pacific Paradise was exposed to a Covid case on four separate dates.

Their exposure times range from December 22 (8am–5pm), December 23 (10am—8pm) December 24 (10am—8pm), and December 27 (12pm—5pm).

Coles said they would be working with Queensland Health to establish what exposure level their site would be deemed, with their North Shore store since reopening.

It comes as other Coles chains in Noosa Heads, Kawana, and Buddina were listed by the supermarket giant to have been exposed to Covid as casual contacts.

Bistro C on Hastings St, Noosa announced on social media on Wednesday it will no longer be serving breakfast because of dwindling staffing numbers.

“It’s with a heavy heart we announce that our breakfast sittings will be closed indefinitely due to the shortage of staff,” the post read.

“We have decided we want a strong team, not a burnt out team.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The restaurant had previously been listed as a casual contact site from 4.30pm to 5.15pm on Tuesday, December 14 by Queensland Health.

Sunshine Coast Daily has contacted the restaurant but management were unable to be reached at time of publication.

Bistro C at Noosa Main Beach. Photo Lachie Millard

The announcement joins many other Sunshine Coast and Noosa businesses which have closed to the public as a precaution while case numbers continue to rise across the state.

Arcare Aged Care in Peregian Springs went into lockdown on Tuesday after a staff member visited the centre before testing positive for Covid.

An Arcare spokeswoman said the 90-bed centre which employs up to 150 staff will be locked down for a deep clean while catering and in room dining is moved.

“It’s a very big process for those on site and unfortunately for our clients they will be confined to their rooms in most cases,” she said.

“We assure that we are doing everything possible to make sure our clients are comfortable during this time which can be quite isolating and scary.

“They are also keeping in touch with their loved ones and team members as well.”

The spokeswoman said families of clients were notified as soon as it came to their attention and will be provided with daily updates about the situation.

“Arcare have been very proficient with Covid outbreaks since we’ve had quite a number in our centres in Victoria and New South Wales,” she said.

“We have a crisis management team ready to go into action if we have a positive case and we’ve implemented these processes at our Queensland sites.”

Arcare Peregian Springs. Picture: Contributed

Peregian Beach Carols were also affected when positive case appeared case after their event on December 22.

Peregian Family & Friends president Leigh McCready said she has received no messages about further Covid cases after a musician tested positive.

Ms McCready said Queensland Health had been in touch with any close contacts.

“The important thing was the musician was performing at the end of the event, so he was only there for a short time,” Ms McCready said.

“He only arrived in the last half-hour and left after his performance, and spent most of his time in the green room.

“I’m hoping that helped ensure there wasn’t a spread as he wasn’t there for a lot of the carols.”

Noosaville restaurant Sum Yung Guy’s owner Matt Sinclair announced before Christmas his business would be shut after 25 staff members were being tested for Covid.

Boardwalk Bistro on Hastings St announced on Facebook on Monday they would be closed until at least the weekend due to Covid.

JB HI-FI closed its Sunshine Plaza doors on Tuesday as “a precautionary measure” and continues to remain closed.

JBHI-FI at Sunshine Plaza has closed its doors as Covid-19 cases continue to spread across the state.

The Sunshine Plaza also confirmed Vodafone had shut its doors on Boxing Day due to the pandemic.

None of these businesses have recently been added to Queensland Health’s exposure list.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard confirmed on Wednesday that significant Covid-19 contact tracing policy changes made on Christmas Eve would see a “pulling back” on businesses being recorded as contact spots.

“This should have had some positive impact on the hospitality sector, I had hoped,” Dr Gerrard said.

Dr John Gerrard speaking in Caboolture on December 29. Picture: Facebook

“In broad terms, we are pulling back to isolating those who are sick, and their immediate household contacts, that is the main group that we are contacting.

“So, the broader contact tracing is gradually being pulled back.”

There were more than 35,000 tests conducted yesterday, despite the removal of the day-five test requirement.

More than 800 vaccines were administered.