Staff and patients at North West Regional and Launceston General hospitals confirmed with Covid

Two of Tasmania’s northern hospitals are dealing with Covid outbreaks as Tasmania’s death toll reaches 100. LATEST>>

As staff at the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) cope with an outbreak, 16 patients have so far been confirmed with Covid.

Five are being treated specifically for Covid and four staff have contracted Covid.

On Friday the NWRH moved to level three of its Covid management escalation plan, as the number of Covid positive inpatients, general hospital demand and staff absences increased the pressure on the hospital.

It means a possible reduction in the number of elective surgeries performed and thirty minutes instead of an hour for visitation

“That escalation level three relates to demand pressures, it also relates to the staff absences,” Mr Rockliff said.

“Nurses and doctors are working through as best as possible.”

Meanwhile there are 34 patients at the Launceston General Hospital being treated for Covid along with seven staff.

It’s not known if they contracted Covid at the hospital.

“At the moment with it being widespread across the community there are novel sources where it’s possible,” health commander Dale Webster said.

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“What we do is we assume it’s come from the hospital, we put in infection prevention control procedure on each other the wards.”

Mr Webster said there were three wards closed to the public.

“They’re closed to visitors, they’re closed to new admissions so we can contain it to that particular,” Mr Webster said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s under control, I’d say we are managing it.

“There needs to be a period of time where we have no new cases before we’d consider we have it under control.”

Covid-related deaths hit 100 as winter surge nears

The number of Tasmania’s Covid-related death toll has hit 100 as the state continues to struggle with a winter wave of infection.

Premier and health minister Jeremy Rockliff on Friday confirmed two people in their 90s and one person in their 70s had died overnight in the state’s north.

“I extend my sincere condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones,” Mr Rockliff said.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the statistic were sobering.

“This is a profoundly tragic statistic, but it’s 100 lives cut short and 100 Tasmanian families grieving,” Ms O’Connor said.

Meanwhile the total number of Tasmanian cases since December 2021 nears 200,000, with 1,589 new cases recorded overnight, adding up to 198,888.

There were 8,927 active cases.

There were 88 people in hospital with Covid, 22 of which were being treated specifically for Covid.

Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O'Connor. Picture: Amber Wilson

There were three in the ICU.

Over the month of June, daily case numbers stayed below 1000 cases, except for the last three days of the month.

On Wednesday, Mr Rockliff said Tasmania was recording higher daily numbers because of the BA4 and BA5 subvariant strains and that cases would likely peak in the coming months.

He said evidence showed the strains were not as severe and that most people had mild symptoms.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Public Health officials have previously explained that fluctuations in daily case numbers are a part of living with Covid and it remains our collective responsibility to look out for one another by continuing to follow Covid-safe behaviours,” Mr Rockliff said

On Friday the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) moved to level three of its Covid management escalation plan, as the number of Covid positive inpatients, general hospital demand and staff absences increased the pressure on the hospital.

It means a possible reduction in the number of elective surgeries performed and thirty minutes instead of an hour for visitation.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the Launceston General Hospital and NWRH were in crisis.

“The flow on effect from this will mean that more people will be languishing on the elective surgery wait list for longer,” Ms White said.

Labor leader Rebecca White.

“Tasmanians have also been told to avoid presenting to the emergency department at the North West Regional Hospital to ease the stress currently on the system.”

Ms O’Connor said a change of course was needed to prevent increasing cases.

“There are a range of simple, commonsense strategies like masks, ventilation and air filtration that the Premier and Dr Veitch should be using, and promoting publicly to slow the spread of coronavirus,” Ms O’Connor said.

Mr Rockliff said mask wearing was recommended for those with symptoms.

“Practice good hand hygiene, follow social distancing and I’d encourage you to wear a mask when you can’t, test when you have symptoms and stay home when you are unwell,” Mr Rockliff said.

“The most important thing you can continue to do to protect yourself, your family and the community is to roll up your sleeves and get vaccinated when you are due.”

The requirement for masks at schools, early childhood centres, public transport, hospitals, residential aged care facilities, disability providers and correctional facilities is now based on individual risk assessments.

Close contacts are still be required to wear face masks in indoor settings.