Hospitals brace for Omicron peak

THE Gold Coast can expect to face the peak of the Omicron wave spreading across Queensland within days, the state’s health minister has warned.

Minister Yvette D’Ath said on Thursday morning that seven of 25 general wards at Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) and Robina Hospital had been set aside to manage patients affected by the Covid-19 variant.

She said GCUH had been working overtime ahead of a predicted Omicron peak in “a matter of days” in the city.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles announced 16,812 new cases and nine deaths, with 850 people in hospital and 48 in intensive care units (ICU).

He said 91,300 cases were active statewide, with Omicron the dominant variant.

Ms D’Ath said she visited the hospital alongside Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard on Wednesday.

“Can I give a big shout out to the staff down there. They’re doing an incredible job, because they are dealing with the largest number of cases across the state at the moment,” she said.

“They will be the first region to actually see the peak happen, which we’re expecting in a matter of days on the Gold Coast.

“They told me, anecdotally, in their testing clinics next door they’re seeing about 70 per cent of people coming forward being Covid positive.”

“We’ve got seven dedicated wards now of about 25 general wards … managing one disease – Covid.”

Ms D’Ath said the impact on GCUH showed how serious the virus was and new “temporary buildings” had been erected on the Gold Coast for triage purposes.

Dr Gerrard said the Coast was “where we are seeing the most significant activity” in relation to the Omicron wave.

“The vaccination rates are slightly lower there, but the main reason is the number of travellers going there,” he said.