Flu fear as Covid lingers in region

HEALTH authorities have warned of a spike in flu cases across the region as Covid numbers stay high just days after the close contact rules were relaxed.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Tina Chinery said it was important to get the flu shot this year.

“In addition to Covid-19, the Cairns and Hinterland region is currently seeing an increase in the number of reported flu cases,” Ms Chinery said.

“We are still in this pandemic, so we need to prevent our hospitals from being clogged with flu patients during the winter months.”

Ms Chinery said it was important to stay up-to-date with the Covid vaccine and maintain social distancing and engage in other hygiene practices.

“We are not seeing any significant trend with Covid-19 cases as a result of the holiday season in the Cairns and Hinterland region,” she said.

“But we are continuing to monitor cases to determine where our resources are required.”

As of Thursday, the region had 15 patients in Cairns Hospital, one person in ICU, eight in rural hospitals and 59 in the virtual ward.

There have been 58 deaths to date in the Far North.

In a seven day period up to Thursday, the region recorded 2196 cases.

From 6pm on Thursday close contact rules were relaxed and household contacts no longer needed to isolate.

Businesses across Cairns celebrated as the restrictions were lifted.

Blackbird Laneway manager Andrew Graham said it was a great thing for small businesses.

“Close contacts (rules) in the past made it hard,” he said.

“There was a period of time where it came close and we thought we would have to close because we didn’t have enough staff.”

He said the change also brought a new wave of consumer confidence.

“A lot of our customers were saying they weren’t coming into the CBD because they would be afraid that they’d come and the business would be shut,” he said.

“People are starting to engage more as a community, it’s been great.”