Seven schools have Covid outbreaks, reveals Education Minister

One week into the school year seven Tasmanian schools have reported Covid-19 clusters. OUTBREAK DETAILS + LATEST ON COVID >>

COVID outbreaks have been reported in seven Tasmanians schools, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said on Tuesday.

The figure is an increase of four schools from Friday and included government, independent and Catholic schools, Mr Rockliff said.

The definition of an outbreak is five cases or more in a class group.

Students in government schools returned to classes for Term one on Wednesday last week.

“At this present time, we have seven declared outbreaks across Tasmania within our schools. My understanding it is a combination of three sectors: five in the north and northwest, two the south and one boarding school north?” he said.

Only a handful of teachers who were supposed to be working in government schools remain unvaccinated, Mr Rockliff said.

“My understanding is that we have 98.9 per cent of teachers vaccinated within our public schools 57 teachers remain unvaccinated.

“That’s down from 61, when I believe we were last reported.”

Tasmanian Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff at Ambulance Tasmania, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

There were 513 new cases recorded overnight and 559 people released from isolation after recovering.

Tasmania currently has 3033 active cases with 32,751 people having now recovered from Covid.

There are currently 10 people in hospital, seven being treated specifically for Covid, including one person being cared for in intensive care.

Australian Defence Force support was being negotiated for five Tasmanian nursing homes which needed help, Mr Rockliff told reporters.

“There was a need demonstrated need – not a clinical need just a general need – and as I’ve said, there’s five aged care facilities with outbreaks and three of those are working with the Commonwealth and the ADF in those general supports needed,” he said.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the outbreaks in schools was sad but predictable.

“School has been back for less than a week and seven Tasmanian schools have reported Covid outbreaks,” she said.

“This is just the beginning of climbing infection rates. It was entirely predictable from experience interstate and overseas.

“Despite his personal assurance to Rebecca White and I ahead of opening the borders that he would ‘not hesitate’ to delay the start of the school year, Peter Gutwein threw caution to the wind.

“His government sent unvaccinated and undervaccinated children and young people back to school without hesitation or a genuine Covid-safe plan for learning.”

Follow @DavidJKillick