Sunshine Coast health experts explain differences in Delta Covid-19 that’s exposed the region

Sunshine Coast medical professionals have explained why the Delta strain of Covid-19 is “fitter, faster and more cause for concern” as the region remains on high alert.

Sunshine Coast medical professionals say differences between the Delta variant of Covid-19 and the original strain make it more contagious and more likely to make people sick.

University of the Sunshine Coast infectious disease expert Matt Mason said the Delta variant was a “cause of concern” and the “fastest and fittest” variant in Australia.

It comes after a woman visited Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Noosa Heads, Montville, Flaxton and Buderim while infectious with the disease.

The 23-year-old had been on a holiday to Melbourne and travelled to the Sunshine Coast on July 13 with the intention of visiting friends for a few days before returning to Mareeba.

Mr Mason, who is a World Health Organisation consultant, said the Delta variant was one of several strains that adapted quickly to survive.

“With any virus the idea is to replicate and grow,” Mr Mason said.

He said the Delta strain was about 75 per cent more contagious than the original strain of Covid-19 that broke out across the world in January 2020.

“To put that in number form, the original strain infected two and a half people, where as the Delta infects three and a half to four,” he said.

“So it gets around faster for more fleeting exposures.

He said unvaccinated people who caught it were more likely to become unwell.

Australian Medical Association Sunshine Coast president Dr Roger Faint said the Delta strain had more opportunities for community transmission.

“You’re basically infectious within 24 hours and can pass it on despite no symptoms for three days later,” Dr Faint said.

“With the previous strains you were more likely to get it indoors, but this one is different.”

It comes as NSW recorded 124 cases of the virus on Wednesday night, taking the total number of locally acquired cases to 1648 since June when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.

“It’s concerning that over (half) of people that have this virus strain are under the age of 55, so this is a very, very different and more contagious strain than we’ve seen,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

“It’s a concern that this rate continues to be high.”

Queensland will shut the border to NSW from 1am on Friday and a mask mandate has been extended by another seven days.

chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland was acting cautiously as Covid-19 outbreaks spread across the country and incursions into Queensland could be difficult to avoid.

“Across the country we are seeing how much of a risk Covid-19 remains, especially the Delta variant,” Dr Young said.

“The current outbreak in NSW is particularly concerning.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast health experts explain differences in Delta Covid-19 that’s exposed the region