Gold Coast ‘Covid’ death: City’s first virus fatal ‘vaccinated’

The Coroner will examine the body of a Coast man suspected to have died of Covid-19. If confirmed, it will mark the first coronavirus death in the city since the pandemic began.

A Gold Coast man aged in his late 30s and believed to be vaccinated who is suspected to have died suddenly from Covid will be the city’s first death from the virus if confirmed.

It comes as Queensland recorded 4249 new Covid-19 infections with 10 people in intensive care units as the Omicron variant rips across the state.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and chief health officer Dr John Gerrard provided an update on the coronavirus on Monday morning, saying 20,239 cases were active statewide.

The Coast man suspected to have died due to the virus was in his late 30s.

If confirmed by authorities, he will be the first Coast resident to have died of the coronavirus.

Ms Palaszczuk passed on her condolences to the family of the man and said his death would be reported to the Coroner.

Hundreds of motorists were lined up for Covid-19 testing at Southport on Sunday. Picture: Richard Gosling

“This goes to shows this pandemic can have very serious consequences,” she said.

“Think very carefully about where you’re going.

“We will get through this together if everyone does the right thing.”

Dr Gerrard said it was “probable” the man who he believed was vaccinated died suddenly of the virus at home, but a coronial examination would determine exactly what occurred.

“All I would say very strongly is that it’s very, very unusual for a young man to die suddenly from Covid-19,” he said.

“It’s a very unusual circumstance. So it needs further investigation of exactly what has happened here.

“The vast, vast majority of people with Covid-19, particularly young people, have mild illness, particularly if they are vaccinated.”

Dr Gerrard said the man’s diagnosis was based on a less accurate rapid antigen test (RAT), rather than a preferred polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

He said about 140 people were in hospital specifically for treatment of the virus, with one person on a ventilator.

The chief health officer also issued a warning to Queenslanders.

“All of us are going to be exposed in the next few weeks,” Dr Gerrard said.

“The real problem is the sheer volume of people who are going to get this virus.”

Regarding wait times for Covid-19 testing and results, Dr Gerrard said the temporary closure of private test sites put pressure on government facilities.

“One of the issues has been that the private sector has not been doing as much testing over the Christmas period and that has been putting a huge demand on the public sector,” he said.

“Hopefully in the next few days as they come on board the capacity will increase.

“There is a limit to what we can do, we only have so much staff.”

Ms Palaszczuk pleaded with Queensland residents and visitors to mask up, continue to maintain proper hygiene and to take precautions to prevent infection.

The Premier said 18 million sorely needed RATs had been secured by the state government and would be provided for free at testing sites to people infected, and close contacts.

“Tests secured include 12 million at-home tests, and almost six million tests for use in the hospital system,” Ms Palaszczuk stated.

“Global demand for the test kits is significant and securing this supply will support new national protocols for close contacts and frontline workforces.

“The rapid antigen tests will arrive in smaller numbers over the coming week or so, with a large volume expected in late January. Queenslanders with Covid-19 symptoms should continue to attend a Queensland Health or private testing centre to undertake a PCR test.”

Queensland Police Service intercepted more than 27,000 vehicles at the borders on Sunday and turned around 126 vehicles.

Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard and Treasurer Cameron Dick. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Police officers handed out about 240 masks after the government made it mandatory to wear them indoors, except in the family home and workplaces where wearing a mask is not safe.

On Monday, 90.67 per cent of eligible Queensland residents aged 16 and over had received a single Covid-19 vaccine, while 86.6 per cent were double-dosed.

Upper Coomera Respiratory Clinic clinical lead Dr Sonu Haikerwal said the virus has spread “everywhere” quicker than health experts and authorities anticipated.

She reported 23 positive cases in one day late last week.

“There’s so much Covid, it’s quite overwhelming,” she said.

“I won’t be surprised if we hit 10,000 cases in Queensland this week.

“We knew it was coming but I don’t think we knew it would spread so quickly.

“The intensity of it and how it has overwhelmed the system is incredible.”

Dr Haikerwal urged the community to “stay calm and collected”, saying she was preparing for the “toughest month” since the pandemic started.

In the previous 24 hours, 30,806 tests were carried out and 1275 vaccine doses were administered.

Queensland has recorded 23,941 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.

Queensland to reveal new Covid-19 cases as testing sites overwhelmed

Earlier: The Queensland government is due to provide an update on Covid-19 numbers after the state announced 3587 new infections on Sunday, with five people in intensive care units.

More than 110 people were being treated in hospitals across Queensland.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard forecast the wave of coronavirus cases would likely hit a peak lasting weeks rather than months because of the more contagious Omicron variant.

He has urged Queenslanders to wear face masks and work from home to help ease the strain on the state’s hospital system.

Meanwhile, outspoken Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate launched a broadside at the state government, accusing it of being “asleep at the wheel” as Omicron spreads rapidly.

Coast testing sites have been overwhelmed, with some people waiting in lines for more than six hours.

Test results have also been delayed, with some Coast residents and visitors waiting four days to know whether they have been infected.

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