Tasmania’s Covid freedoms the envy of the nation, says Premier Peter Gutwein
Tasmania is the envy on the nation as far as freedom from Covid-19 restrictions goes, the Premier says as NSW celebrates the end of their lockdown. LATEST COVID NEWS >>
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TASMANIA was in an enviable state of freedom from Covid restrictions compared with the rest of the nation, Premier Peter Gutwein says.
Speaking to reporters as residents of New South Wales celebrated an end to their long period in lockdown, Mr Gutwein said their “freedom day” had long been our everyday reality.
“There will no doubt be a lot of hoo-ha about what’s appearing in New South Wales today,” Mr Gutwein said.
“New South Wales are desperate to get back to where we are.
“As of today, there are limits on how many people that can go to your home, schools aren’t open in New South Wales and in terms of their density limits, they have only half as many people allowed to attend events as what we do.
“So hopefully, they’ll continue on their pathway and that they will get to be as lucky as what we are.”
Mr Gutwein said Tasmanians were on track to be 90 per cent vaccinated against Covid by December and the government’s plan was to reopen borders to interstate travel — subject to some conditions — soon after.
“Our expectation is that we’ll be open by Christmas. That’s the that’s the plan that we’re working towards,” he said.
Labor’s education spokesman Josh Willie on Monday called on the government to do more to mitigate the risk of Covid being spread in schools.
“Ventilation and air purifiers are one way in which the government can help reduce the risk of COVID spreading in schools. It would come as no surprise to Tasmanians that many school buildings are older and may not be designed for adequate airflow or to be COVID safe,” he said.
“There has been plenty of time to prepare and ensure children and staff are as safe as possible in schools, yet the government has delayed this important measure.
“We know the Victorian Government is investing heavily in measures to reduce the risk of COVID transmission with 51,000 air purification devices to be rolled out to all government and low-fee Catholic schools.
“We have heard very little from Minister for Education Sarah Courtney on what the plan is for Tasmania or what commitment she will make to ensure our schools are COVID safe.”
Tasmania’s Minister for Education Sarah Courtney said that the Department is currently analysing data to improve ventilation in school buildings in an effort to respond to risks surrounding Covid-19.
“The Department will work closely with Public Health on this matter, and will take their advice on any measures that should be put in place.” she said.
“The Budget includes $300 million for costs associated with the COVID-19 response, and we will ensure any action required is fully and properly resourced.”
Tasmanians encounter issues with Check in TAS app
TASMANIA has hit a Covid-19 milestone ahead of schedule with 80 per cent of Tasmanians aged over 16 now having had at least one dose of the vaccine.
State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson said he expected the target to be made official on Sunday.
“I look forward to the confirmation of this. The advice I have been given is we are on track to reach 80 per cent today and 90 per cent by December 1 or earlier,” Mr Ferguson said.
“We are ahead of the run rate and the government would like to thank Tasmanians for embracing our campaign.
“If you haven’t had the jab yet there are appointments available right now.”
Mr Ferguson also had good news on the testing of the close and casual contacts of a teenager who returned from Melbourne to Launceston with the Delta strain.
The 15-year-old left home isolation and rode his scooter to an IGA in the Launceston suburb of Newnham.
There has also been Covid-19 discovered in wastewater near the Hobart hotel where the boy and his father are quarantining.
Thirteen of the 17 identified close contacts have returned negative results.
And 52 of the 57 casual contacts have returned negative results.
The results of the other nine tests are still pending.
“It feels like we have had great management and some luck,” Mr Ferguson said.
“It was potentially a dangerous exposure situation.”
He said the state’s health system was ready and could cope when the virus “inevitably” comes to Tasmania.
“The hospital system is well prepared for the inevitable positive cases to come,” Mr Ferguson said.
“There is significant redundancy in the health system we have held onto since the initial outbreak in 2020.”
But Shadow Health Minister Anita Dow said
It’s time for Premier Peter Gutwein and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff to be upfront and honest about the state of Tasmania’s health system and the dire need for more federal funding as we plan to reopen the state.
Shadow Health Minister Anita Dow said it was time the government stood up to Canberra and demand more federal funding for health services.
“Even without the burden of Covid Tasmania’s health system is at breaking point,” Ms Dow said.
“The time for pleasantries are over. It’s now time for the government to stand up and do the right thing for Tasmanians.”
Premier Peter Gutwein is due to release Tasmania’s road map out of pandemic restrictions later this month.
Mr Gutwein is so far standing firm on his stance that Tasmania will not bridge its “moat” until 90 per cent of the state’s population is vaccinated.
Department of Health secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said on Sunday reports of error messages from the Check in TAS app happened because some users had not updated the app.
“The approximately 20 per cent of users who were running earlier versions have had to check in via alternative methods. Ensuring you update the app as soon as possible will help avoid further inconvenience,” she said.
Regional Tassie chemist jabs 200 in 10 days
It was a no-fuss affair when Ulverstone speedway racer Darren Saunders wandered into the Penguin Pharmacy for his first Moderna vaccination on Friday.
The racer and support worker had not booked his jab but within 10 minutes of entering the store, he was halfway done on his journey towards full vaccination against Covid-19.
“Work said if you don’t have it, they don’t want ya,” he said.
“We need them for work because clients can say you haven’t had it so you can’t come to our residence.”
“I chatted to the pharmacist and he said drop in and we’ll do it.”
He said as Covid restrictions ramped up for speedway including mask wearing and crowd capacity and he guessed vaccination requirements “could be on the cards” which was another reason to get it done.
Pharmacist Joe O’Malley said he was he was “surprised” by the number of people in the area who had not been vaccinated.
I am surprised at the number of people that are still walking around that haven’t got a vaccine yet.
He believed people on Tasmania’s Central Coast were waiting for something other than AstraZenica.
However since ordering Moderna, bookings picked up which was made evident as he pointed towards a full booking calander on his computer screen.
“Most pharmacies will be trying to do ten a day ... but I also don’t want to turn people away,” he said.
“If they’re here and we’ve got the stock, it seems like a wasted opportunity not to.”
Mr O’Malley said the pharmacy’s first order of 200 doses Moderna lasted just 10 days prompting two more orders of 300 doses each.
“The vaccines now are available, they’re accessable, they won’t have to wait and they won’t have to travel an hour,” he said.
Nearby GPs in Penguin and Ulverstone offer Pfizer and the area will also soon be visited by a recently announced mobile clinic offering Phizer vaccine to anyone over 12 years of age.
Mr O’Malley said the pharmacy would also be keen to joining the Pfizer rollout.
“It’s the same technical skill, it’s a very similar product, it comes in a multi-dose vile ... it’s just a matter of being organised with your demand management and your calander,” he said.
The Central Coast is one of the better performing LGA’s according to federal vaccination data with 55.3 per cent of its residents fully vaccinated.
That is in stark contrast to neighbouring municipalies Devonport (48.9) and Kentish (42.8) which are among the state’s lowest.
‘There’s no excuse’: Call for Tassie’s lowest vaccinated area to roll up their sleeves
When the state vaccination clinic rolls into Sheffield on Friday and Saturday, the mayor’s message the people of Kentish is clear.
“For those who have put off getting the vaccination because they didn’t want to travel outside the community and wanted to get the Pfizer, there’s no excuse now, it’s coming into town,” Kentish mayor Tim Wilson told the Mercury.
Kentish is Tasmania’s lowest vaccinated municipality with latest figures showing 63.3 per cent of residents having had their first dose while only 42.8 per cent fully vaccinated.
Until Friday, the Kentish municipality has only had AstraZeneca available for over 60s with those younger, or those wanting Pfizer, needing to travel out of area to get their Covid-19 vaccination.
Neville Barmby of who lives just outside of Sheffield, said he got his two AZ shots with ease but his wife needed Pfizer and would have had to travel to Launceston to get it – a two hour round trip.
“I was a bit apprehensive at first but I got it,” he said.
“(I think) people in general probably wanted a lot of other people to try it first.
“Another thing they think is ‘we’re pretty safe over here’ but you wouldn’t want it to be like Victoria or New South Wales would you?”
Cr Wilson struggled to put his finger on exactly why the rates were so low among his constituents but guessed hesitancy, distance and complacency played a role.
“I know this guy who had all his vaccinations over his life but has baulked on this one,” he said.
“You’ve got a whole group of people – the reluctant – and they aren’t anti-vaxxers necessarily, and some of those are but they’re probably going to wait until that very last minute.
“We’ve only had AZ available here for 60 plus … a few people have died from that and people only read the headline … it scares them.
“We’re fairly spread out around here so if you want to get the Pfizer, you head somewhere else and some people just don’t like travelling. I reckon there’s a fair bit of complacency too, this idea: ‘what’s the big drama?’
“We’re certainly not going to see 100 per cent of people vaccinated” Cr Wilson said.
Despite this, Cr Wilson said come the weekend he expected the rates to spike with Pfizer being made available for the first time in Kentish to all those who want it.
He was confident that it’s only a matter of time until the Delta strain reached Tasmania’s shores.
“I say they’re going to get caught with their sleeves down instead of their pants,” he said.
“Delta will get into Tassie and start spreading around and then they can’t magically be double vaccinated that day.
“After Saturday there’s no excuse.”
Cr Wilson hoped the conversations around the vaccine remained civil and would not cause division in the community.
“There’s enough things in our society that divide us – people are divided over politics, their world view, ideologies – and the vaccination has become division for us so that’s disappointing,” he said.
“Just as long as we don’t start demonising people.”
Despite no prior outreach through public clinics, Cr Wilson said he believed Public Health identified an accessibility issue and acted quickly with rolling out the community clinic when after data was made available.
“They have acted fairly quickly on that.”
Public Health said there will 175 appointments will be across both days with most appointments available on Saturday.
“Each day there are 288 scheduled appointments with capacity to take additional walk-ins as well,” a statement said.
Sheffield’s vaccine clinic runs between 9:30am to 4:30pm Friday and Saturday at Sheffield Town Hall for anyone over 12 and is open to bookings (preferred) and walk-ins.
The clinic will return for dose two on October 29 and 30.
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