Tasmania’s Covid cases spike after Easter break

The number of daily Covid cases reported in Tasmania has jumped nearly 30 per cent after the Easter break, with a quarter of Tasmanians expected to have had the virus by this time next week. FIND OUT WHY>>>

The number of daily Covid cases reported in Tasmania has jumped nearly 30 per cent after the Easter break.

There were 1819 new cases reported on Wednesday, a jump of 401 cases on the day before and 80 per cent higher than the daily average of around 1000 since borders reopened mid-December.

By this time next week, one in four Tasmanians will have had the virus.

There were 56 people in hospital with Covid on Wednesday – the equal highest figure of the pandemic – although only 21 were being treated specifically for the disease.

Another patient at the outbreak-affected Launceston General Hospital’s ward 6D tested positive, the Department of Health said, taking total infection numbers to five.

Staff are waiting on test ­results.

And the number with active infections in the state’s prison system fell by 48 people to 68 active cases, Corrections Minister Elise Archer said.

Minister Elise Archer. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said a forecast drop in daily case numbers had not materialised.

“Despite the government’s assurances, Covid cases do not appear to have peaked,” she said.

“They certainly are not heading in the right direction.

“We’re still recording more than 1000 new cases a day, with among the highest infection rates in the country.

“There can be little doubt that’s due to the Liberals’ removal of critical protections, like mask mandates … it’s ­urgent the Rockliff gov­ernment changes course.

“We need a plan to reduce community transmission. It must include mask mandates as a vital protection against this dangerous virus.”

Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said case numbers had increased across the state over the past month, largely due to the impact of the highly transmissible BA2 Omicron strain.

“The most important measure is the number of hospitalisations, which remains among the lowest in the nation,” Mr Rockliff said.

“We expect to see the ­numbers of people in hospital for Covid decline over the next few weeks.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff speaks to the media during a Covid briefing at the Executive Building in Hobart.

“The most important thing Tasmanians can do is to continue to roll up their sleeves and get your vaccination, or your booster if it’s due, to keep yourself and the community safe and continue to practise Covid-safe behaviours.

“Tasmanians are able to wear masks and are encouraged to do so in situations where they are unable to ­socially distance.”

Labor deputy leader Anita Dow said the persistence of high case numbers a concern.

“With daily new Covid cases still hovering around 2000 and the weather becoming increasingly colder, we understand case numbers will continue to grow,” she said.

“The flu is also expected to make a return to the state this winter, increasing the pressure on health services and workers and Tasmanian families.

“Covid is not over but with no plan or clear response from the Liberals, Tasmanians remain confused and anxious about the disruptions it continues to cause to their lives.”

‘Operational pressures’: Covid outbreak in Tassie hospital ward - April 19

Pressures on hospitals have led to an outbreak temporarily shutting down a Tasmanian hospital ward, Premier Jeremy Rockliff has said.

“I’m aware of a ward that has been closed at the LGH due to an outbreak,” Mr Rockliff said.

The Premier said Tasmania maintained a lower rate of Covid-hospitalisation than other states, due largely to the state’s world-leading high vaccination rates.

Acting State Commander Dale Webster said four patients from a non-Covid ward at the Launceston General Hospital had tested positive to coronavirus.

“Patients are experiencing minor symptoms,” he said.

“The ward is closed to new admissions, and to visitors until further notice while the outbreak is managed.”

He said the ward was classified as being a “general medical” ward, which can contain up to 32 patients. Patients and staff from the ward will continue to receive PCR tests as the situation is monitored.

Mr Webster said Health had learned from the first Covid outbreak in the North West during 2020, and described Covid infection prevention protocols as “first class”.

One patient from the ward has been moved to a Covid-specific ward.

Mr Rockliff said there were 8952 total active cases, with 22 people currently being treated for coronavirus in hospital, one of whom is in intensive care.

Mr Rockliff said Tasmania had seen “high numbers of Covid-positive patients in hospital over the past few weeks”.

“Sadly, we have also seen a rise in the number of patients who have died with Covid,” he said.

Nine people have died with coronavirus in the last seven days.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch.

Public Health director Mark Veitch said initial data suggested Covid infection rates were trending downward.

But he said still, concerningly, 100 or so people in the vulnerable age group aged 70 and over were being diagnosed every day.

But there was a glimmer of hope on the horizon, with the Premier citing lower infection rates.

“It’s pleasing to note that levels of community transmission have stabilised over the last seven days,” Mr Rockliff said.

He said this would likely translate to hospitalisation rates beginning to decline.

Amid Covid outbreaks in prisons, Dr Veitch said 104 prisoners in total had contracted coronavirus across five sites in a recent outbreak, while 13 staff had also been affected.

“Several patients are receiving treatment for Covid within the prison complex but none are seriously ill,” he said.

Most cases were in the Ron Barwick section of Risdon Prison, with 41 cases in that area alone, 13 elsewhere in Risdon Prison, eight at Hobart Reception Prison, four at Mary Hutchinson Women Prison, and three at the Launceston reception.