Labor leader Rebecca White calls for immediate increase in coronavirus testing

Labor leader Rebecca White says it’s a “bit worrying” that only 100 coronavirus tests are being conducted each day in the state, given the number of people in quarantine.

There is an urgent need to increase the rate of coronavirus testing in Tasmania — particularly in the North-West Coast outbreak and among frontline workers, Labor says.

Tasmania has the second-highest rate of infections per capita in the nation, but the lowest level of testing.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said the number of tests being conducted was not sufficient given the number of people who were in quarantine on the North-West Coast.

“Tasmania sadly hasn’t been doing enough testing for the entire period we’ve had this virus outbreak here,” she said.

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“It’s encouraging to hear the Government are now providing tests to anybody who’s displaying symptoms, particularly on the North-West, but that should have happened before now.

“We need to ensure that we can do more than the current rate of testing per day.

“It’s a bit worrying when you hear the public health official tell the community that we’re only doing about 100 tests a day, the North-West at the moment when we’ve now got 5000 people in quarantine.”

Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Ms White said frontline workers, especially those in the emergency services, should receive top priority.

“The thing about this virus is that it is invisible and it spreads really quickly and people can be contagious with it but not feel sick,” she said.

“This is why it’s so important that we provide much greater and broader access to testing so that anybody can get access to that if they feel unwell, so we can track and trace and get on top of this virus quickly in Tasmania.”

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Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said anyone concerned they may have coronavirus should contact their GP or the public health hotline.

“We’re doing around about 100 tests a day, and I think we would actually like to see more testing than that happening in the North-West – up to several hundred tests a day,” he said.

“That will be principally focused on the people who are in quarantine, but it should also be conducted on anyone outside of the quarantined people who have the relevant symptoms, we want to spread broadly.

“To date we have sufficient test reagents and swabs. Swabs are one of the items in relative shortage at the moment but we’re aware of the timeline for receipt of new swabs and we have several other strategies – different swabs to use, and other strategies if we need.

“We were not being stopped doing any more tests. We have a capacity, if people choose to turn up to our testing sites and report any symptoms, they will be tested.”

 

Health Minister Sarah Courtney during a COVID-19 update. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Health Minister Sarah Courtney on Tuesday urged people in the North-West in particular to monitor their health.

“If you’re symptomatic, please contact the public health hotline, please contact your GP, it is important that you are tested, testing is available.

“We have ramped up capacity across the North-West Coast. And now we’ll be able to provide you with the best advice for you to be safely tested.”