LACK OF FORESIGHT STAGGERS ME ON EXIT

Being assigned as the health reporter during a global pandemic isn’t exactly how I envisaged my return to the newsroom in February 2020 after a 12-year hiatus. A week before I started at the Gold Coast Bulletin, January 30, Australia banned all flights from China because of the “deadly coronavirus” (later to be named Covid-19).

The Gold Coast also recorded its first Covid case, a 44-year-old Chinese national from Wuhan who was staying at Peppers Resort in Broadbeach.

Globally there were 6000 confirmed cases, including seven in Australia. Some 130 people had already died from the virus. According to the World Health Organisation, there’s now 315 million cases globally and 5.5 million people have lost their lives.

Health-wise, the Gold Coast has weathered the pandemic extraordinarily well compared to its southern counterparts.

The latest data reveals the region has recorded 24,091 cases and two deaths. Across the state there has been some 180,000 cases and 20 deaths.

We’ve gone from reporting on every single case and listing exposure sites to accepting 20,000 people across Queensland are getting Covid every day. And we haven’t even reached the Omicron peak yet.

But numbers don’t reflect the utter chaos this virus is causing. Our already overwhelmed mental health system is broken, drug and alcohol use is at record highs and, tragically, people are taking their own lives. In years to come there’ll be a spike in chronic health conditions, burdening an already-drowning system.

What annoys me the most is that we’re always so underprepared. Weren’t leaders looking to places such as the UK and the US to know rapid antigen tests would be crucial?

And as for the vaccine rollout, mixed messaging and continually changing the goalposts has discouraged people from trusting politicians and, sadly, the vaccine. Politicians and leaders have been too reactive.

The exception is current chief health officer Dr John Gerrard. Queensland is so fortunate to have one of the world’s best infectious disease specialists at the helm.

While Covid has torn a gaping hole in the fabric of society, it’s also put a spotlight on the incredible strength humanity has. People have survived not being able to hug their dying parents, attend funerals of loved ones and incredible financial hardship. A virus is no match for our humanity.

While it’s with a heavy heart I leave the Gold Coast Bulletin, my colleagues remain vigilant in their endeavours to fight for those who have no voice.