Sunshine Coast Covid-19 cases: 134 new cases confirmed since Christmas

The Sunshine Coast has recorded more than 130 new infections since Christmas as residents queue for hours to get tested for Covid-19.

The Sunshine Coast has recorded more than 130 new Covid-19 cases since Christmas Day, bringing the total number of cases to 470 in the region.

Queensland Health recorded 134 new cases being observed by Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Services since its last update on December 25, an increase of 53 cases in two days.

The data reveals 136 of those cases are being listed as active while 132 cases have recovered since the pandemic began.

Queensland recorded 784 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday with the State Government now opening bookings for under-12s to get a coronavirus vaccine.

Queensland’s Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said he expected cases to increase after testing numbers were not as high over the Christmas period.

Dr Gerrard said 72 hospital and health service employees had tested positive for Covid-19.

This included a Sunshine Coast University Hospital worker who returned a positive test on Sunday after working in a ward on Christmas Eve.

He said about 350 health workers were in quarantine across the state waiting for their results back.

Long lines at a Noosa testing clinic on Monday, December 27.

Noosa residents have been observed to be queuing for a Covid-19 test for close to three hours at the testing clinic on Hasting Street in the rain on Monday.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged people to remain patient as some private testing clinics had closed over the Christmas and New Year’s period.

“Once we get through New Year’s everything will get back to normal,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said that health authorities were looking “very carefully” at the mandatory day five Covid-19 test PCR.

She said they were looking at whether that could be a rapid antigen test instead, and an update would be ready in 48 to 72 hours.

Dr Gerrard said that the Omicron variant remains the dominant strain in Queensland with around 75 per cent of cases.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk addressing the media at a press conference with Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard at Seventeen Mile Rocks, Brisbane. Picture: Jerad Williams

He strongly urged Queenslanders to book in for their booster shot, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Meanwhile Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland Health from today will begin accepting bookings for children to get the jab.

She said it was important for as many children as possible to get the vaccine before school goes back.

Children can also go to GPs and pharmacies to receive their jab and will receive a smaller dose.

“It is up to you to get your children vaccinated,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Queensland Health hasn’t listed any new exposure sites listed for the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions since Saturday, when six different locations for casual contact were recorded.

See the list below:

• Tuesday 14 December – Grill’d, Noosa Heads – 8.30pm – 9pm
• Tuesday 14 December – Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club – 6.37pm – 8.29pm
• Tuesday 14 December – Miss Moneypenny’s at Noosa – 5.29pm – 6.30pm
• Tuesday 14 December – Bistro C at Noosa – 4.30pm – 5.15pm
• Thursday 16 December – Giddy Geisha at Maroochydore – 4.40pm – 5.30pm Casual contact
• Thursday 16 December – Ann’s Nails Sunshine Plaza – 3.10pm – 3.40pm