Live blog, May 28: No booking required at DEC or Mowbray Racecourse testing sites

The state’s top public health official says high levels of coronavirus testing will be required for “many months”, especially once life returns to the normal. REWATCH THE COVID-19 UPDATE HERE

This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Can we finally hug our loved ones again?
• Premier rejects calls for COVID-19 response scrutiny committee
• Building boom ‘first major step’ in COVID-19 recovery
• Stripped back version of ‘iconic’ food festival on the cards
• Hope for Tassie businesses in JobKeeper bungle
• REVEALED: Tassie’s road map out of COVID-19 restrictions

READ MORE:

• Everything we know about the cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania
• Where each case of coronavirus occurred in Tasmania
• What restrictions have eased in stage one

12.30pm: 1500 COVID-19 TESTS CONDUCTED IN TWO DAYS

ALMOST 1500 Tasmanians have been tested for coronavirus in the past two days.

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said Tasmania was now “testing at a rate that is probably around or above what the rest of Australia is testing at the moment”.

“That provides very valuable information about the absence of coronavirus infection in Tasmania,,” he said.

“If you have symptoms, you don’t need to wait until there’s a clinic in your neighbourhood. “There’s a range of places you can go and get tested. So don’t delay testing, if you had, or have recently had, respiratory symptoms.”

Dr Veitch said high levels of testing would need to be maintained “for many months”.

He also said the time between restriction changes was just as important as having no cases.

“Once all of the people have recovered and gone home, and we’re getting no additional cases, obviously, that will be a comforting state of affairs. But it’s only part of the information that we need to have to make decisions,” Dr Veitch said.

“There’s been consistent advice nationally, that we need to wait at least three to four weeks between stages of changes.”

Health Minister Sarah Courtney this morning provided a summary of the testing numbers.

She said more community members than anticipated had attended the DEC and Mowbray Racecourse no booking, drive-through testing clinics over the past two days.

“We have seen over 300 present at Mowbray and over 400 at the Derwent Entertainment Centre,” she said.

Last weekend, more than 220 people presented to mobile clinics set up at George Town, Oatlands and Nubeena.

This weekend further regional testing will be held at Rosebery, Dunalley, Triabunna, Deloraine and Queenstown, with bookings preferable but not compulsory.

Next Tuesday, the no booking clinics will pop up in Prospect Vale and Sorrell.

Premier Peter Gutwein reminded Tasmanians not to forget the “virus is still decimating countries in other parts of the world, and that we are seeing cases in other parts of this country”.

He said the recovery plan relied on four safeguards:

COVID-19 safe workplaces

TRACK and trace — more people downloading the COVIDSafe app

RAPID response capabilities

HIGH levels of testing

11am: PREMIER PETER GUTWEIN AND HEALTH MINISTER SARAH COURTNEY PROVIDE A CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

7.30am: TESTING FACILITY OVERWHELMED

AN “overwhelming” number of Tasmanians visited Glenorchy’s Derwent Entertainment Centre yesterday for COVID-19 testing.

The State Government said hundreds of Tasmanians packed the DEC and the Mowbray Racecourse after coronavirus screening centres were set up at the two sites.

“Over 170 people were tested for COVID-19 in Glenorchy and over 130 in Mowbray,” a Government spokesman said.

Test results take between 24-48 hours to be notified, the spokesman said.

The large turnout at the DEC resulted in testing facilities reaching full capacity, prompting authorities to ask Tasmanians to refrain from visiting.

Visitors were also told to be “tolerant” if in a queue and to follow staff directions.

It comes as Tasmania recorded no positive coronavirus cases yesterday — the 12th consecutive day without a positive case, leaving the state’s COVID-19 total at 226.

No booking is required at the pop-up Glenorchy and Mowbray clinics, which are open for drive-ups today from 10am to 3.50pm at Glenorchy and 10am to 3.30pm at Mowbray.

6.30am: COUNCIL SERVICE BACK IN ACTION

HOBART City Council’s service centre has reopened for face-to-face business.

Following its temporary closure, the centre, at the corner of Davey and Elizabeth streets, reopened yesterday with physical distancing and hygiene measures in place.

Staff will be available during business hours for payments and inquiries, while specialist services, such as plumbing and development assistance, require an appointment.

The council said payment by card was encouraged.

6am: MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LOANS

TWENTY Tasmanian local government authorities are set to share in $147 million of no- interest loans to support investment and jobs in communities.

Local Government Minister Mark Shelton said the loans would apply to upgrades, renovations and maintenance on infrastructure, as well as other measures taken by councils to respond to COVID-19.

“This line of finance to the local government sector will help to stimulate local economies and give us the best shot at recovering from COVID-19,’’ Mr Shelton said.

“As we move into the recovery phase of this crisis, it is imperative that we sensibly balance a reboot and rebuild of our economy, while mitigating the risk of a second wave of coronavirus infection.”

More than $33.8 million will be spent through councils in the state’s North-West, $32.5 million in the North and $80.5 million in the South.