Sunshine Coast health experts say Brisbane Delta outbreaks remains a concern after holidays

Health professionals have urged the region to rally to hit the 80 per cent vaccination rate as a list of Covid-19 exposure sites continues to grow on the Sunshine Coast’s doorstep.

A growing list of Covid-19 exposure sites on the Sunshine Coast’s doorstep has the region’s health professionals concerned over a potential outbreak on the back of the September holidays.

Queensland Health’s list of exposure sites within an hour of the region continue to multiply with residents in Chermside, Redcliffe, North Lakes and Brisbane Airport all at risk.

It comes after the state recorded three cases overnight with two detected in hotel quarantine and one a mystery case of a woman who had been infectious in the community for 10 days.

It takes the state’s number of active cases to 26.

Noosa-based physician Dr Ian Norton, of Respond Global, said Brisbane’s Delta outbreak was a concern, particularly after an influx of holiday-makers had arrived in September.

Oliver Guthrie, 26, from Tewantin after receiving his Covid-19 vaccination at the Sunny Street, Tewantin, vaccination centre. Picture: Lachie Millard

Dr Norton said the state’s testing rate was low compared to other states and needed to be increased.

“We’ve just had a long weekend, which traditionally always brings people from Brisbane up, so there’s always a chance we could get unlucky,” Dr Norton said.

“The Sunshine Coast has done well until now but Brisbane is only an hour away.

“North Lakes has Ikea, which most of us have all gone to.

“Our testing rate is too low, so we may be missing some cases which is certainly worrying.”

The Sunshine Coast had no confirmed active cases as of Monday, October 4, but the growing list of exposure sites and recent long weekend had medical experts on edge.

Dr Norton said vaccination rates were still too slow, despite nearly 160,000 jabs administered across the region, according to Queensland Health data.

He said the rates of people seeking to be vaccinated was lower than hoped.

“It’s been slow, which is worrying,” he said.

“Maybe it’s because people think it won’t circulate here, which is wrong.

“We need to get to 80 or 90 per cent of the population vaccinated.”

Steven Little, 67, from Coolum receiving his Astra Zeneca vaccination at the Sunny Street Tewantin vaccination centre. Picture Lachie Millard

Sunshine Coast Local Medical Association president Dr Roger Faint also stressed the need to reach the minimum target of 80 per cent double dosed.

Dr Faint said failure to meet the target could lead to hospitals being overwhelmed and further lockdowns.

He said the Brisbane outbreak was a concern, being an hour from the Sunshine Coast.

“We really need to get the vaccination numbers up. This Brisbane outbreak is a bit of a warning shot if you will,” Dr Faint said.

“For yourself and the community, we need to reach 80 per cent as soon as possible.

“We will be able to start to return to normal.”

Dr Faint said there had been a sharp uptake in the number of daily jabs administered at his Buderim practice over the past few weeks.

He said more people were willing to get the Pfizer jab over the AstraZeneca.

“Absolutely more people are coming in. We were doing 10 a week, now 10 a day,” he said.

“The vaccine hesitancy is dropping off.”

Dr Faint encouraged residents to book an appointment to receive the vaccine rather than walk in.