Sunshine Coast Covid: Noosa Surf club temporarily closes as cases rise

The Sunshine Coast region’s Covid-19 cases has reached 760 as Queensland ‘pulls back’ its contact tracing, prompting businesses to come forward themselves.

The Sunshine Coast’s Covid situation has skyrocketed over the last 24 hours as the region records 124 new cases, with investigations continuing into their origins.

This comes as the states records 2222 new cases since Wednesday, bringing the state’s total cases to 8586.

The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service region has 760 total Covid cases with 237 active and 132 fully recovered.

According to Queensland Health data the origins of 274 cases Sunshine Coast cases and 136 in Noosa were unknown and under investigation.

Local government areas such as the Sunshine Coast and Noosa Shire have 450 and 193 total cases respectively as of Thursday.

It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Thursday changes to the definition of close contact.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke with the media during a press conference in Parliament House Canberra, after the National Cabinet meeting. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Morrison said a close contact is now considered a household contact of a confirmed case only.

A household contact is someone who lives with a case or has spent more than four hours with them in a house, accommodation or care facility setting.

“So, you are only a close contact if you are, effectively, living with someone or have been in an accommodation setting with someone for more than four hours with someone who has actually got Covid,” he said.

Mr Morrison said the new definition that requires testing and isolation will come into effect in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and in the ACT at midnight Thursday.

Tasmania will follow on January 1 with the Northern Territory and Western Australia will be making announcements in future.

More venues have taken to social media to announce their closures as Queensland Health changed its policy to constantly update exposure sites online.

The Noosa Surf Life Saving Club was the latest venue to temporarily shut the its doors after announcing on Thursday they had been named a Covid contact exposure site.

Crowds pack in front of Noosa Surf Club at Noosa Main Beach. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mooloolaba cafe Lot 104 also announced on Wednesday they would temporarily close due an outbreak of Covid at their venue.

“Any customer who visited our premises on December 23 and 24 between 7am and 2pm, please go and get tested immediately and please isolate if you are not well,” the post said.

“We are very sad to be away from you all but safety first … we shall see you soon.”

Even Prime Minister Scott Morrison dodged a Covid scare after Bribie Island Surf Club announced a positive case at an event he attended on December 21.

Chief Health officer Dr John Gerrard said this would be the time Queensland would experience the “true pandemic” as cases begin to rise.

He said “tens of thousands of cases” would appear in coming weeks, with some likely to go into intensive care.

“This will be something we have not experienced before,” he said.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard addresses the media during the COVID 19 press conference. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Coles Supermarkets revealed on their website their stores in Pacific Paradise, Kawana, Buddina and Noosa Heads had been visited by Covid contacts since December 22.

Arcare Aged Care Centre in Peregian Springs plunged into lockdown on Tuesday due to a staff member visiting while being Covid positive.

The 90-bed centre which employs up to 150 staff closed their doors to the public to deep clean while most residents were confined to their rooms.

Queensland Health were contacted as to why the vulnerable and high risk centre wasn’t listed as an exposure site.

“Our public health teams work closely with venue management to achieve a facilitated quarantine of impacted people and trace all patients, staff and visitors,” a Queensland Health spokeswoman said.

“Because we have contacted all impacted people, there is no risk to community and no need to place exposure sites such as this on the website.”

Christmas carols in Peregian Beach was also visited by a positive Covid case on December 22.

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”, while Vodafone shut its doors on Boxing Day.

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

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

Dr Gerrard urged Queenslanders to continue checking in with the Queensland app despite the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) reviewing the process of contact tracing.

The top doctor insists those who have been at an exposure site are being contacted by Queensland Health but this may change in the coming days.

He said people were still presenting to hospital after they recorded a positive result, but said in most cases that was not necessary.

“The illness will be mild in the vast majority of you,” he said.