Daily blog, May 14: Latest Tasmanian coronavirus news
Tasmania has reached a landmark seven days without recording a new case of coronavirus. REPLAY TODAY’S COVID-19 BRIEFING
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- REVEALED: Tassie’s road map out of COVID-19 restrictions
- When do the pubs reopen?
- When do the kids go back to school?
- Cash boost to help pay rent amid pandemic
- What went wrong? Experts offer their views
READ MORE:
- Everything we know about the cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania
- Where each case of coronavirus occurred in Tasmania
9.15pm: NO NEW CASES FOR A FULL WEEK
TASMANIA has reached a landmark seven days without recording a new case of coronavirus.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch on Thursday evening said the state’s COVID-19 count remained at 225.
He said testing of samples was continuing across Thursday night.
As of 6pm on Thursday, 20,473 coronavirus tests had been conducted statewide.
Of the 225 positive Tasmanian cases, 187 people have recovered, 13 have died and 25 cases remain active.
Any Tasmanian with cold or flu-like symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose, or fever should contact their GP or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange testing for coronavirus.
8.50pm: EDUCATION GAP: SCHOOLS TO PLAY CATCH-UP
TASMANIAN students will start returning to learning at school in just 10 days, with educators facing a significant task to help them catch up on what they have missed.
Students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 and those in Years 11 and 12 will be back in classrooms from May 25, with Years 7 to 10 returning two weeks later.
A predominantly at-home learning model was adopted due to coronavirus restrictions, with some saying the staged return to traditional settings would be akin to starting the year again after summer holidays.
7.05pm: PREMIER REFUSES TO RELAX RULES FOR AFL
HAWTHORN and North Melbourne are both laying heavy hits, but Tasmania’s Premier Peter Gutwein is not backing down from his hard line stance on AFL games in the state this season.
The Hawks and the Roos have both expressed their desire to fulfil their contracts — worth a combined $8 million to the clubs — of playing eight home matches in Tasmania this year, even with a truncated season.
But any visitors to Tasmania must remain isolated in a hotel for 14 days — and Mr Gutwein said he would not relax this policy just so AFL teams can play games in the state in front of empty stadiums.
5.59pm: MERSEY ED TO REOPEN BUT NOT 24/7
THE Mersey Community Hospital’s emergency department will soon reopen, but for limited hours.
Health Minister Sarah Courtney said with the North West Regional Hospital fully recommissioned from Friday, a reset plan had been developed to ensure continued safe delivery of services at the Mersey Community Hospital.
“Importantly, this plan will mean the Emergency Department is expected to reopen on 31 May, with operating hours from 8am to 10pm,” Ms Courtney said.
1pm: STATE’S SURPRISING JOBLESS RATE
TASMANIA’S unemployment rate was 6.2 per cent in April — a rise of 1.3 percentage points, the official figures show.
Massive jobs losses predicted as a result of coronavirus-related shutdowns were not reflected in the Australian Bureau of Statistics Labor Force figures released today.
Tasmania’s unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent in March before measures to contain the coronavirus shut down large parts of the state economy.
11.30am: DETAILS OF STAGED HOSPITAL REOPENING REVEALED
HEALTH Minister Sarah Courtney says there will be a staged reopening of key services at the Mersey Community Hospital.
Speaking at today’s coronavirus briefing, Ms Courtney said the hospital had played an important role in supporting the North West Regional Hospital and North West Private when they closed.
She said there would be a staged reopening of key services.
“This includes the emergency department at the Mersey Community Hospital, which will be opening on the 31st of May with operating hours from 8am to 10pm,” Ms Courtney said.
“There will be deep cleaning of high-risk areas including the ED as they are vacated by patients or groups temporarily occupying them.
“We are implementing a number of capital works based on infectious disease specialist advice to strengthen our response capability.
“We’re recruiting additional infection prevention and control nursing staff to co-ordinate and support a range of critical infection control training and monitoring activities, and I note that we have recently appointed an infectious disease physician for the North-West.
“There will be a dedicated medical lead at the Mersey Community Hospital to strengthen medical governance and provide advice to support teams in primary, community, and mental health.”
Ms Courtney said a staff wellbeing program and peer support program would also be rolled out, and COVID training would continue.
11am: WATCH THE COVID-19 BRIEFING:
7am: COUNCIL TO CONSIDER RELAXING OUTDOOR DINING RULES
HOBART City Council will consider relaxing the rules around outdoor dining to allow local hospitality businesses to expand their footprint while still adhering to social distancing rules.
Alderman Marti Zucco has put forward a notice of motion for the next general meeting on May 25 for the relaxation of outdoor dining conditions to be in place until the industry is able to operate at full capacity.
As part of the motion, the general manager would also be able to relax associated licence fees.
9pm, Wednesday: SIX DAYS WITHOUT A NEW CASE
TASMANIA has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 for a sixth consecutive day
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said as of 6pm on Wednesday Tasmania’s coronavirus count remained at 225.
As of Wednesday evening, there were 25 active cases in the state and 187 people had recovered from the virus.
Thirteen Tasmanians have died from COVID-19.
Dr Veitch said any Tasmanian with cold or flu-like symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose, or fever should contact their GP or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange testing for coronavirus.
8pm:FREE STUDY FOR STOOD DOWN TOURISM STAFF
HOSPITALITY workers left idle by the coronavirus pandemic will be able to bolster their qualifications for free thanks to a government-sponsored partnership with the University of Tasmania and the tourism industry.
Eligible applicants will be able to complete a new Graduate Certificate in Business Studies, or Tourism, Environmental and Cultural Heritage, without charge.
The courses were announced on Wednesday by Premier Peter Gutwein and University of Tasmania Vice Chancellor Rufus Black.
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