Covid cases doubling in Far North as Omicron emerges

Covid cases including a confirmed Omicron case in the Far North region are increasing rapidly with contact tracing for locally-acquired cases underway.

THE Far North has eight new cases of Covid bringing the total to 17 for the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service region (CHHHS), with one person in Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.

CHHHS chief executive Tina Chinery said it was a rapidly changing situation and more details would become available but there were two locally acquired cases on the Tablelands.

“It is really important if you have any symptoms to come forward and get tested, please observe social distancing, please wear mask when out and about,” Ms Chinery said.

“We are looking at increasing access to testing clinics and have recruited up to 200 new nurse graduates (but) please be patient, obviously we are seeing an increase in demand at those testing clinics and results could take three to four days to come back.”

Dr Annie Preston-Thomas of the Cairns Public Health Unit says there may already be more locally acquired cases yet to be detected. Picture: Peter Carruthers

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The number of Covid cases has more than doubled overnight.

“The health service is prepared and we have activated our plans,” Ms Chinery said

“We have opened a Covid virtual ward, because we know that most people can be cared for very well at home, but I would encourage everyone in the community to be prepared, make sure you have a thermometer a Panadol,” she said.

She said the Pacific Hotel had been put back into action as a quarantine hotel and negotiations were underway with another hotel.

“We are prepared, we do have plans in place and if required we may postpone non urgent surgeries to ensure we do have capacity,” Ms Chinery said.

CHHHS public health physician Dr Annie Preston-Thomas said cases were expected to grow.

“We know there are two locally acquired cases associated with the Tablelands still investigating source of exposure so we are actively contact tracing, making contact with all the close contacts of those people,” Dr Preston-Thomas said.

“A booster shot will provide additional protection, especially against Omicron variant, and we know Omicron variant will be here, we have had at least one case of Omicron here and we anticipate it will soon take over as the main variant.

“It may be we already have more locally acquired cases,” she said.

Queensland has recorded 186 new Covid cases, the most in a 24-hour period since the pandemic started, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing an extension of the mask mandate today.

Starting from 5am Thursday, masks will be mandatory in cinemas and theatres, and for hospitality staff – who are going from table to table.

Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland was expected to hit the 90 per cent first dose vaccination target today, with 90 per cent set to be fully vaccinated by mid- January.

Originally published as Covid cases doubling in Far North as Omicron emerges