Covid cases detected in half of government schools across Tasmania

The government has confirmed Covid cases have been reported in students from around half of Tasmania’s government schools. WHERE THEY’VE BEEN RECORDED >>

Covid cases have been reported in students from nearly half of Tasmania’s government schools, Premier Peter Gutwein said on Thursday.

Ninety-nine schools had reported at least one case, he told reporters.

Thirteen schools across the state have experienced an outbreak of more than five cases in a class group: six were government schools, four Catholic and three independent.

There were 226 new cases of Covid reported in the five- to 19-year-old age group, Mr Gutwein said — a number that was broadly stable in recent weeks.

The 680 new Covid cases reported across Tasmania on Wednesday represents the highest figure since January 29 and the fourth consecutive daily increase since 354 cases were reported on Sunday.

Mr Gutwein said Covid was being managed appropriately in the school system and there was no point in releasing further details when small number of cases were present.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We have just under 200 public schools in this state, I think it’s 195,” he said.

“At this stage, around half of the schools have reported at least one case. That’s going to continue, it’s something that we should expect.”

“Public health are very firmly of the view that we shouldn’t be releasing the details of individual schools.

“If somebody tests positive, they test positive at home. They don’t go to school.”

Mr Gutwein said there had always been an expectation of increased case numbers once the state reopened its borders on December 15, but original projections had proved to be on the high side.

“There was obviously an expectation that increased level of testing occurring and we would see significantly higher case numbers,” he said.

“That hasn’t occurred and in fact, what we’re seeing broadly spending is that our overall case numbers are staying relatively stable and certainly in terms of the age groups that go to school there’s no material increase.”

Just 54 of the state’s public teaching workforce had not yet met the requirement to provide evidence of having had a Covid vaccination and the reserve force of teachers on standby had not been drawn upon, Mr Gutwein said.

Tasmania on Thursday passed the milestone of 50 per cent of those aged over 16 having had their Covid-19 booster shots.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recently updated its advice to state hat a booster is required to be considered up to date on vaccinations

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Originally published as Covid cases detected in half of government schools across Tasmania