Health Minister says we will rely on own advice before reopening

Tasmania is keen to emerge from the ‘cave of Covid’ but the Health Minister reveals what needs to happen before it decides to ‘live with’ the virus.

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff. Covid update in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

TASMANIA – with its enviable Covid-19 status – is keen to emerge from the “cave of Covid” but will continue to rely on local health advice despite the national push for states to learn to live with the virus rather than lockdown.

The Delta strain of the virus continues to run rampant in NSW and Victoria while this State has not seen a case of community transmission since May 6 last year.

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff says he would like to see every eligible Tasmanian vaccinated before this state opens its borders.

Royal Hobart Hospital’s Frank Nicholson this week raised concerns about the capacity of the State’s health system to cope with an outbreak of the Delta strain with the system having half the beds needed.

But Mr Rockliff said Tasmania was preparing and was prepared to handle the situation if new cases emerge here.

“Another 100 emergency ventilators are on their way to bring the total to 370 in the State,” Mr Rockliff said.

He said Tasmanians had done a tremendous job remaining Covid-19 free since 2020 and this had been achieved through the good will of the population and tough border controls.

“I recognise the Doherty modelling and the frustration restrictions have imposed over the last 18 months. But we have a more vulnerable ageing population and will be guided by our public health advice,” he said.

“We need to get to a point where we can ease restrictions but we will not risk the safety of Tasmania. Our focus is on vaccination. We would like to ensure more than 80 per cent of eligible Tasmanians were vaccinated before we opened up. Actually, I’d like to see every single Tasmanian vaccinated.”

Director of Public Health Doctor Mark Veitch with clinical nurse consultant Nikki Lane at the Roy Fagan Centre in Hobart. First Tasmanians to be given the AstraZeneca vaccination against COVID-19. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

At 6pm on August 22, 37.5 per cent of Tasmanians were fully vaccinated.

This week Prime Minister Scott Morrison told state and territory leaders they must not be afraid of COVID-19 cases rising once enough of the population was vaccinated.

“Once you get to 70 per cent of your country that is eligible for the vaccine and 80 per cent, the plan sets out that we have to move forward, we cannot hold back,” he said.

“We must adjust our mindset. Cases will not be the issue … dealing with serious illness, hospitalisation, ICU capabilities, our ability to respond in those circumstances, that will be our goal.”

Mr Morrison says states and territories need to hold to an agreement to wind down COVID-19 restrictions as more people are vaccinated and signalled financial support may dry up for states that do not.

Federal, state and territory governments agreed to a national plan last month to begin reopening the country and end large-scale lockdowns once 80 per cent of the eligible population was vaccinated.