Push for Tasmanians to get vaccinated, tested against Covid
Four out of five eligible Tasmanians will have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by this weekend, with a bus-based clinic about to hit the road to our lesser-jabbed towns. LATEST >>
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FOUR out of five eligible Tasmanians will have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by this weekend, Acting Premier Jeremy Rockliff said on Thursday.
The government will start a small towns vaccination program over the coming days in an attempt to reach the 95,000 people who have still not been jabbed.
Around 15 communities with low vaccinations rates will be visited by a bus-based clinic operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Department of Health.
Communities such as Miena, Penguin and Beauty Point will be among those visited to fill in gaps in vaccine coverage.
“This is part of our plan to ensure all Tasmanians have had an opportunity to get vaccinated,” he said.
The state government has set a target of a 90 per cent vaccination rate, plus 100 per cent of Tasmanians being offered the virus before restrictions on interstate travel are relaxed.
Mr Rockcliff told a media briefing in Hobart that next week was Mental Health Week and it was understandable that people were feeling anxious after the recent positive case in Launceston.
“While Tasmanians have demonstrated incredible resilience over the Covid outbreak, it is an important and timely reminder for people to look after themselves.
“I want all Tasmanians to know support is there if you need it.
Authorities were keeping an eye on developments interstate ahead of a decision on whether to reopen borders, expected in early December.
“The situation in NSW and in particular in Victoria is still very concerning,” Mr Rockliff said.
“We will continue to monitor the evolving situation and take further action when necessary.”
The 17 close contacts of the Launceston teenager with the delta variant of the virus will be tested again over the weekend. All have so far returned negative tests, as have 51 casual contacts.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said it was still possible that someone could return a positive test over the next week or so.
“We know we’ve got onto this case and their contacts quite quickly and that’s why it’s important we await this next round of tests before we draw any conclusions about whether they have infected anyone else,” he said.
The teenager and his father are in isolation in a Hobart medi-quarantine hotel.
Mr Rockliff urged all people in the Newnham area to be tested if they experienced any symptoms.
“Even if you are vaccinated, you need to get tested if you have symptoms,” he said.
A drop-in mobile clinic has been set up in the suburb today, he said.
Acting state health commander Dale Webster said pop-up clinics were being rolled out in areas with low vaccination rates.
He said clinics would be open for bookings and walk-ins at, Launceston, Sheffield, Rosebery, Huonville, Brighton, Ouse, Scottsdale and New Norfolk in the coming days and appointments were available at all in addition to other clinics already operating.
Hundreds of appointments were available statewide, he said.
Close contacts of Covid-positive teen receive test results
Wednesday October 6
17 close contacts of a Launceston teenager who tested positive to the Delta strain of Covid-19 have returned negative test results, Acting Premier Jeremy Rockliff has revealed.
The close contacts that arrived on a flight from Melbourne will remain in quarantine for at least two weeks and will receive testing in the coming days.
“We are not out of the woods yet and this is no time for complacency.” said Mr Rockliff.
“The 35 people identified as casual contacts are also in quarantine and will be required to be tested today and tomorrow.”
An increase in testing has been recorded across the region with 274 tests conducted in the Wellington St facility on Tuesday up from 174 on Monday and 129 on Sunday.
Mobile testing buses will also be used in coming days with Mr Rockliff encouraging anyone with even the mildest symptoms, particularly in the northern suburbs of Launceston, to get tested.
“A pop-up vaccination clinic will be open in Mowbray on Friday and Saturday this week, with hundreds of Pfizer vaccination appointments currently available between 9am and 5pm.”
Quarantine-breach teen has Delta
Tuesday October 5
THE 15-year-old who left home quarantine and visited his local IGA has been confirmed as having the deadly Delta strain of Covid-19.
On Monday it was revealed the 15-year-old who tested positive to Covid on Saturday left home quarantine on Saturday afternoon and travelled with a cousin to the IGA in Newnham.
The George Town St store has been classified as an exposure site between 2.20pm and 2.45pm on Saturday.
Acting Premier Jeremy Rockliff said from the confirmed case in Launceston, Public Health has identified 17 primary close contacts, including other passengers on the Virgin Australia flight VA 1364, family members and airport staff.
A further 35 casual contacts have been identified.
The government also revealed that two people had visited the family home during the boy’s infectious period.
Acting Premier Jeremy Rockliff said there was no ongoing risk at the store.
“This shows why using the check-in App is so important,” Mr Rockliff said.
Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said there were only a handful of people in the store at the time and their contact with him would have been fleeting.
“The likelihood of a case among close contacts is quite high,” Dr Veitch said.
“The people he travelled with from the airport, his father, the relatives he spent time with until his diagnosis was known. I would not be surprised if we get another case with more testing.”
While the teen broke quarantine instructions, Tasmania Police are viewing the offence as a public health issue at this stage.
The teenager’s age also needs to be taken into account.
Launceston residents responded to the scare by turning up in droves for testing with 510 tests being conducted on Saturday, 499 on Sunday and 740 on Monday.
Twelve waste water sites will be tested over the next two weeks as well.
The multicultural suburb of Newnham has a lower vaccination rate than greater Launceston.
A pop up clinic will operate in nearby Invermay on Friday and Saturday.
The boy’s close contacts will have more tests before the government is confident the virus has not been set loose in the general community.
He remains in the Fountainside quarantine motel along with his father.
Mr Rockliff said 100,000 Tasmanians eligible to be vaccinated have not yet lined up for the jab.
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