Gold Coast finally hits a major COVID-19 milestone
The Gold Coast is free from COVID-19 free for the first time since January after all active cases have recovered.
Gold Coast
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It has been 245 days since COVID-19 first struck Gold Coast in late January - now for the first time in months the city is again virus free.
As of this morning the region's final active case which was a returned visitor in quarantine has recovered, ending for now, what has been a long and arduous battle with COVID.
Over the nine month period the region has seen 199 cases of the potentially deadly virus, but has escaped without a single death.
Of those cases 129 had been acquired from overseas, over a million Queenslanders have been tested for the virus.
Since the first case of the virus was diagnosed in the state among Chinese Tourists at a Broadbeach hotel, local health teams have been praised for their tireless efforts in containing the spread.
The most notable medical feat was the recovery of Surfers Paradise 81-year-old Richard Misior, who spent 77 days in ICU.
The region's cases also included Hollywood star Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson who were diagnosed in late March, and Gold Coast beautician Khadijeh “Roya” Oveisi who caught the disease while overseas. Mr Hanks is now back on the Gold Coast to film the Elvis biopic and Ms Oveisi is back at work at Australia Fair.
Local hero nurse Topaz Stringfellow was also diagnosed while volunteering on the frontline in Melbourne. Bedridden for a week because of the virus, Ms Stringfellow has made a full recovery and has since spoken out about the need for caution and social distancing.
Gold Coast retired cop Kym Watkins thanked the 'angels' working at the Gold Coast University Hospital for her recovery from COVID-19 in April. Ms Watkins was close to death according to her doctor but managed to pull through after time in the ICU.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said earlier today that the "strong health response" had kept the state safe.
There are now five active cases in the state.
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