State’s first Covid patient in ICU after reopening its border

Tasmania has recorded its first Covid-positive patient in ICU, four weeks after reopening its borders to the rest of Australia.

Tasmania has recorded its first Covid-19 patient in intensive care since the state reopened to the rest of Australia four weeks ago.

The state recorded 1139 new cases over the past 24 hours, down from 1201 on Friday.

There are 22 people hospitalised with Covid-19.

There was little information about the patient in ICU included in Saturday‘s Covid-19 update.

In a statement, Premier Peter Gutwein said vaccination was Tasmania's “strongest defence” against the virus and thanked people for registering their positive rapid antigen test results.

“Importantly, the current evidence continues to show that the Omicron strain, while highly transmissible, is significantly less severe,” he said.

“It is important we make this transition (to live with Covid) so that we can return to a more normal way of life, with Covid to be treated as we would other common influenzas and respiratory illnesses.”

Peter Gutwein is urging Tasmanians to get vaccinated and register their Covid test results. Picture: Chris Kidd

More than 98 per cent of Tasmanian residents aged 16 and over have had at least one dose while 95 per cent are fully vaccinated.

There are 7108 active cases across the state.

On December 15, Tasmania lifted its interstate border restrictions after 90 per cent its eligible residents were fully vaccinated.

Originally published as State’s first Covid patient in ICU after reopening its border