20,000 new cases: Covid-19 still running rampant on Gold Coast as flu season approaches

There’s been thousands of Covid-19 cases on the Gold Coast since restrictions were wound back. Here’s which city suburbs have been hit the worst.

Doctors fear a heavy flu season is on a collision course with a spike in Covid cases as people become complacent.

Upper Coomera Respiratory Clinic owner and high-profile GP Dr Sonu Haikerwal said she was “definitely expecting” a sharp surge in respiratory-related illnesses over the next few months, and “people have become fatigued with all of the messaging around protection”.

Queensland government data shows 80,034 people have had Covid since December 13, 2021.

Parts of the northern Gold Coast still remain the hardest-hit in the city, with Coomera and Pimpama alone recording 9676 cases since December last year.

About 20,000 people have been struck down with the virus in the past three months as restrictions eased across the state.

Dr Sonu Haikerwal says she’s concerned about the fast-approaching flu season. Picture: Richard Gosling

However, Yatala recorded only 332 cases, and is followed closely by Tallebudgera on the southern end with 576 cases as the lowest.

Other suburbs topping out the worst for Covid infections include Nerang to Highland Park, 7144 cases; Southport and Labrador, 7530 cases and Surfers Paradise and Main Beach, 5635 cases.

One in twelve on Gold Coast have had Covid-19 as worst suburb for Covid-19 infections revealed

A Gold Coast Health spokesperson said the number of Covid-19 patients being cared for at Gold Coast University and Robina hospitals had “decreased over the past month”.

They said they were well-equipped to handle any influx of respiratory-related admissions over the winter months.

Medical staff on the frontline fighting Covid-19 at Gold Coast University Hospital include Intensive Care Unit consultant Dr Jon Field. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

“Gold Coast Health continually adapts to meet demand and deliver care. We have services

such as our Covid Virtual Ward to manage Covid-19 positive patients outside of the

hospital setting, where appropriate.”

Despite this, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she had “received some reports” that hospitals across the south east had experienced “an increase in demand” in their emergency departments.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says ome hospitals across the southeast have seen an increase in demand in recent weeks. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

She attributed the demand to “a number of factors”.

“First and foremost, we still have people with Covid in our hospitals,” the Premier said.

“But as we are coming into flu season, we are also seeing those numbers go up.

“We also have a lot of people in our hospitals that shouldn’t be, either some elderly patients or those with a disability. They need to be moved out to appropriate care and that’s a federal responsibility.

The Premier said she encouraged those who hadn’t to go and get their Covid booster and flu shot as soon as possible.

“We do know now that we are living with Covid out there in the community but the best form of protection is vaccination,” she said.