Qld Covid: Fears for Gold Coast as state records 9581 cases, kids’ vax program kicks off

The pandemic is rampant on the Gold Coast with authorities concerned low vaccination rates and poor adherence to mask-wearing rules are contributing to the Glitter Strip’s woes.

Queensland reported 9581 new Covid infections on Monday, a lower daily figure that does not included data from four private testing clinics.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a software issue had prevented the true daily tally from being revealed.

There are 419 people in hospital statewide – up from 402 – while the number of people in intensive care has dropped from 22 to 21 people.

However, the Gold Coast is responsible for 11 people in intensive care, with six of those unvaccinated.

“(The current spread on the Gold Coast) is not surprising, given the sheer number of interstate visitors, which would cause seeding events to occur particularly in this area, because we know that a lot of travellers going to that region,” chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said.

“But I would also point out that the vaccination rates on the Gold Coast are on the low end.”

Mask wearing on the Gold Coast is also a point of contention.

Of the 189 masks police handed out in Queensland on Sunday, 168 of those were on the Gold Coast. There was just one infringement notice issued.

“So the message to all of our community and particularly our people on the Gold Coast please carry a usual mask,” Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said.

Concerns over the Gold Coast covid spread come after controversial Mayor Tom Tate questioned why the state government doesn’t just let the virus rip to reach the peak sooner.

“The chief health officer has publicly stated that an open-border approach is the best way to tackle the virus – by letting it run its course,” he wrote for the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“So why is the state now changing community restrictions on a near daily basis?

Meanwhile, Seven people statewide were on ventilators at 7pm on Sunday night.

Monday’s update comes as the state government cops heat for pushing the start of the school year back by two weeks to avoid sending kids out into the peak of the Omicron wave.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the weekend said it was a “sensible and logical” move to push back the start of term one back to February 7 for kids in prep through to year 10, noting the move gave parents more time to get their children vaccinated.

Pfizer shots for kids aged five to 11 began in Queensland on Monday with 4700 kids already booked in for their shot.

However, infectious diseases expert Dr Nick Coatsworth said Ms Palaszczuk had made the wrong move, saying “no state should delay the return to school”.

“Every government and medical expert in this country needs to follow the lead of the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund which both state that schools should be the last to close and the first to open,” the former deputy chief medical officer said.

“We are not in a situation in Australia that requires a delay to school opening.”

Queensland is expecting the Omicron wave to peak in late January to early February with chief health officer Dr John Gerrard forecasting an immense strain on the health system.

Monday’s update does not include data from a number of private testing clinics, meaning the true number of cases is likely much higher.

Covid stats across the nation have been unsettled in recent days and will likely continue to fluctuate as changes to testing data are bedded in, namely the reporting of both PCR tests and RATs to more accurately reflect the pandemic’s footprint.

The Queensland government’s online RAT reporting site went live at lunchtime on Saturday and – much like in other states – the inclusion of at-home test figures sent the daily infection count soaring.

New cases climbed from 11,300 at 7pm Friday to 18,000 cases at 7pm on Saturday, a 60 per cent leap.

Self-reported positive RAT results via the new government portal was 3714 over the past 24 hours, down from 4320.

Ms D’Ath said staff at testing clinics had unfortunately been the target of abuse from a number patients frustrated over the number of RATs included in a kit, the eligibility for the free tests, and the prospect of missing out because a site had extinguished their supply for the day.

There are four to five tests included in a free RAT kit for various vulnerable cohorts of society, as well those in home quarantine, and those who are symptomatic but can’t access a PCR test.

“People are getting angry with our staff and volunteers because we‘re only handing out one kit per individual,” Ms D’Ath said.

“Please respect there is a limited supply of these tests right now and do not abuse our staff and our volunteers who are working on the frontline to help people keep safe here in Queensland, and it’s unfair to take your anger out on them.”

The state government on Saturday announced it was delaying non-urgent elective surgeries until the start of March in order to ease pressure on a buckling health system.