Please attribute to Mackay HHS Acting Chief Executive Ms Terry Johnson
Mackay HHS has 24 new positive COVID-19 cases to make a total of 71 active cases throughout the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday local government areas.
Of these, one has been admitted to the Mackay Base Hospital COVID-19 Ward and this person is in a stable condition.
Another nine patients are in Mackay Base Hospital Virtual Ward and 22 are in Townsville University Hospital‘s Virtual Ward. All are in a stable condition.
The other patients are isolating at home or in other accommodation and their care is being overseen through the Federal Government’s COVID Care At Home program.
The positive cases are a mix of locals returned from inter-state, inter-state visitors and fly in fly out mining workers from inter-state and the close contacts of these people.
Demand for testing remains high with 772 people tested in the health service on 27 December. Of these 248 were done at Proserpine Hospital.
I would like to thank our testing staff who are working in hot and humid conditions outside to do this testing.
I would also ask people are patient and kind. We know there is a waiting time for testing, but becoming abusive towards staff does not make the queue move faster or help anyone.
Please also remember that private pathology providers are also offering testing.
We are asking everyone to follow these steps and not to wait until you are aware of a case near you:
The Mackay Showgrounds drive-through clinic can only test people who have symptoms or who have been in an exposure site on the day and time listed. We are not testing people without symptoms.
The only people who should come to Mackay Base Hospital’s Emergency Department for a COVID-19 test are those who are very unwell with severe symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath.
Exposure sites: www.health.qld.gov.au/tracing
Showgrounds test bookings: https://healthserviceportal.health.qld.gov.au/hdsp or call the hotline on 4885 5666 between 8am and 4pm seven days.
Areas outside Mackay: Testing options are here
Whitsundays residents: Proserpine Hospital 28 – 31 December 8am – 3pm
Other questions: 134 COVID – 13 42 68
