Covid Tasmania: Virus fears won’t stop volunteers from helping those in need
The imminent reopening of the state’s borders has left many older Tasmanians anxious and even “scared”, but it won’t stop them getting out and helping others in need.
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AS a regular volunteer, 80-year-old Margaret Gowland admits she is worried about Covid when the Tasmania’s borders re-open next month.
But there’s no way she is going to give up helping others.
She volunteers at Mathers House in Hobart providing advice to older Tasmanians and checking in those who come for lunch or other social activities.
“I’m really worried because we’ve been very lucky so far and I know that we need to get travel going again, but I am scared,” Ms Gowland said.
“I’m double vaccinated so I’ve got a fair chance of just getting sick and not dying if I get Covid.
“They’ve said 200 people will die so it is a worry but I won’t give it (volunteering) up.”
Jean Muller volunteers preparing and cooking meals for the Salvos in Hobart and is not daunted by Covid.
“I’m fully vaccinated and we will have a crisis period, but we have to get back to normality,” she said.
“I’d miss helping out tremendously, it helps the community and gives me a purpose.”
Council on the Ageing’s Sue Leitch said while many older Tasmanians were looking forward to reconnecting with family, others were anxious.
“I do think that some will be taking a cautious approach, but the more vaccinations we can get done before the borders open, the better for all of us,” she said.
“Access to health care is always at the forefront of older Tasmanians’ minds and we have seen this before the pandemic.”
Ms Leitch said a proposal to care for Covid cases at home was promising.
“We need to be able to support each other in the community and keep in touch with others, as they may need support if needed to be treated at home,” she said.
Salvation Army public relations manager Amelia Natoli said when Covid first hit, many volunteers aged over 60 were unable to continue and even as restrictions eased, many of those never returned.
“The Salvation Army anticipates that once again a number of volunteers aged over 60 may choose not to continue volunteering due to concerns around Covid and the uncertainty around what restrictions will be placed on volunteering across the state,” she said.
“For many of our Salvation Army volunteers, we’ve been able to adapt their roles to ensure they are still able to volunteer their time to support the community in some capacity.
“For example, we’ve seen volunteers who previously worked the register at our Salvos stores change to helping sort clothing donations instead.”
The Salvos have nearly 700 long-term volunteers but the number, particularly across Salvos stores, has dropped since Covid began.
“At the Salvation Army Glenorchy, more than half of their volunteers are aged over 60,” Ms Natoli said.
St Vincent de Paul Society president Mark Gaetoni said there was no indication that any of its 1000 volunteers would discontinue support when borders re-open on December 15.
“The Society is currently assessing any extra measures we need to consider once the borders open,” he said.
“A significant percentage of our volunteers and members are over 60.
“This would be an issue for the St Vincent de Paul Society if we did not have the support of a younger cohort of experienced case co-ordinators who fill in the gaps when volunteers and members are not available.”
Mr Gaetoni said before vaccinations, many volunteers and members were unable to help because they were in the high-risk category.
“We sustained service levels during the peak of the pandemic by re-tasking our paid employees to fulfil many of the duties undertaken by volunteers and members.”
He said volunteer and active members had dropped by 15 per cent since Covid-19 began.
A government spokesperson said the priority was for Tasmanians to get vaccinated.
Suburbs at risk of Covid outbreak when borders open
Tasmanian health authorities have issued a stark warning: If you are not fully vaccinated before December 15 — ‘the virus will find you’.
In an update to the state today, Premier Peter Gutwein said restrictions around dancing at bigger events could be relaxed, but it hinged on more young people getting vaccinated.
Premier Peter Gutwein acknowledged a number of concerns around the 250-person dancing limit had been raised by festival operators.
He said Public Health was reviewing the measures.
“We’re going to review those rules but importantly we’ve got to get to a point where our vaccination is higher or those events have a double vaxxed on entry policy,” Mr Gutwein said.
“One age cohort of concern is people aged 16 to 24 … that’s the group that likes music, that likes going to festivals.
“If you want to dance, get vaxxed.”
It’s been revealed thousands of Tasmanians have had their first dose but missed their second.
“Up to 20,000 Tasmanians have missed their follow-up appointment and have missed their second dose,” Department of Public Health secretary Kathrine Morgan Wicks said.
The Premier said those wanting to enter Tasmania will need to be double vaxxed.
The CheckIn Tas App will soon be able to show an individual’s vaccination status, and display a green tick for those fully vaccinated.
“It’ll be an ideal way to show your full vaccination status,” Mr Gutwein said.
Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said the best way for Tasmanians to protect themselves and their community would be ensuring they were fully vaccinated before the borders open.
“Cases are going to happen in Tasmania in our community from the 15th of December onwards,” Dr Veitch said.
“If you’re one of the 40,000 people who hasn’t been vaccinated, the virus will eventually find you.”
Dr Veitch said the areas which had the lowest vaccination rates would be where the virus outbreaks would happen first.
As of this week, the local government areas with the lowest rates and most at risk of a Covid outbreak after December 15 are Circular Head, Central Highlands, Kentish, Derwent Valley and Dorset.
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