Thousands expected to fall sick after Australia Day

Queensland Health modelling has forecast thousands of Darling Downs residents will be infected with Covid in the coming weeks. The numbers have cast a long shadow over the region’s Australia Day festivities.

Proudly Australian are (from left) Chris Acworth, Savannah Wilson and Betty Acworth at Toowoomba Australia Day Awards and celebrations at Picnic Point in 2021. It seems they may have to stay home this year. Picture: Kevin Farmer

THE raging Covid caseload has caused havoc for Australia Day celebrations, with the Toowoomba Regional Council voting to give local committees the option to postpone their events.

There will also be a temporary move away from large events.

Yesterday the councillors voted to give the town organising committees the option to restrict attendance to organisers, officials, award recipients and their immediate families.

It endorsed invitation-only award presentations as the preferred option for the region’s celebrations.

What this means for the dozens of services remains to be seen as most committees will take today to decide if their plans will change.

Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald said the council’s decision considered current health guidance indicating the peak of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus was expected in coming weeks.

“Modelling from Darling Downs Health suggests that we will see a surge in Covid positive cases beginning Monday, January 24 and running for approximately two weeks,” he said.

“Council’s primary concern is to host safe community Australia Day events across the Region.

“Our volunteer local Australia Day organising committees indicated they wanted direction from Council, as the main organiser, around our advice for staging this year’s Australia Day community celebrations.

“While state government health directives allow outdoor events in line with all Covid safety rules, Council is mindful of the risks involved in organising large attendance events that could coincide with the current spread of the Omicron strain.

“Local committees have the experience of hosting safe functions last year. Several committees have amended their plans for smaller, invitation-only events, while other committees, such as Cambooya, Millmerran and Oakey are keen to proceed with outdoor programs on Australia Day.

Queensland Health modelling forecast 50 per cent of the Toowoomba Region’s population would contract Covid.

That’s around 85,000 people

About 80 per cent of those infected will be Covid well, 15 per cent will feel quite unwell but treatable at home and five per cent or 4250 people will require hospitalisation.

“We should continue to thank our health workers, and the best way we can help them now is to stay out of hospital,” Mr McDonald said.