Tasmania’s daily Covid-19 case count hits triple figures

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been detected on Tasmania’s King and Flinders islands, in what is believed to be a first since the pandemic began. LATEST >>

THE first known cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic have been detected on both King and Flinders islands, as a wave of new infections reaches many parts of Tasmania.

Both cases are interstate travellers who received positive test results after arriving, and they are now in isolation.

Public Health Services have been conducting contact tracing for both cases, with close contacts being notified and given instructions.

King Island Mayor Julie Arnold said the recording of the island’s first Covid-19 case was not unexpected.

“We knew it was going to come at some stage,’’ she said.

“There’s no perspex barrier between us and mainland Tasmania and mainland Australia.

“We have tourists coming, we have residents interacting with family from mainland Australia, so of course it was going to come at some stage.”

Ms Arnold said the island had been working for several months to put processes in place to deal with a positive case.

“Those processes have worked very well and we’re pretty happy that the public health work is being done and residents are being kept safe,’’ she said.

“But we do need residents to do their part which is to be vaccination, wear masks, socially distance and keep community interaction to the necessary minimum.”

Ms Arnold said King Island’s vaccination rate among the 16+ population was 91 per cent first dose while 87 per cent were fully vaccinated.

There are now 520 known active cases of Covid-19 in Tasmania, after 137 new cases were confirmed in the state on Friday.

Acting Public Health Director Dr Julie Graham said the new cases underlined the importance of checking in.

“These cases are an important reminder that people should always use the Check in Tas app no matter where they are in Tasmania,’’ she said.

“People should also ensure they wear masks indoors when not in a private residence and adhere to physical distancing measures.”

Flinders Island Mayor Annie Revie said she was unaware of the confirmed positive case when contacted by the Mercury on Friday.

More than 100 new Covid cases recorded in Tasmania

A fourth person has been hospitalised with Covid-19 as more than 100 new cases are recorded within 24 hours.

The Department of Health said on Facebook three of the hospitalised patients were being treated for coronavirus symptoms, while one was hospitalised for another condition.

The state has 520 active cases according to data relating to the 24 hours to 8pm Thursday, meaning 137 new cases were recorded within that period.

The demand for Covid tests remains strong, with 2075 tests taken on Thursday.

There are 200 people in the Covid at home program, and 86 positive cases are in a community case management facility.

Greens demand border closure following outbreak

The premier is sitting back and allowing Omicron to rip through the community by refusing to close the state border, according to Greens leader Cassy O’Connor.

Ms O’Connor, who has got into the habit of wearing two masks at once, said the sudden surge in Covid cases was proof that Peter Gutwein had opened the borders too soon.

She said the Greens were demanding Mr Gutwein to admit he was wrong and to “pull up the drawbridge” before Omicron spreads even further.

Ms O’Connor said Mr Gutwein was also at fault for mandating face masks too late – five days after the state borders were opened to high-risk areas.

“In just two weeks Peter Gutwein has gone from hero to public health enemy number one,” Ms O’Connor said.

TOLD YOU SO: Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said the Covid outbreak was proof that Peter Gutwein shouldn't have opened the state borders so soon. Picture: Kenji Sato

“He opened the floodgates to Omicron and then walked away and abandoned Tasmanians, that is why so many people are scared and angry.”

Peter Gutwein hit back at Ms O’Connor’s comments, which he described as “quite unfortunate”.

He said he made his decision to open the borders based on advice from Public Health experts, and that he did not regret doing so.

“From day one I’ve relied on the health advice and I will continue to do so, and that advice at the moment very clearly is to stick with the plan we’ve rolled out,” Mr Gutwein said.

“We will stay with that play, however if that advice were to change then – as I’ve said on many occasions – in a heartbeat I’d change.’

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