Tasmania’s Covid death toll and hospitalisations rise

Tasmania has recorded 1,885 new Covid cases overnight as the state’s death toll once again rises. LATEST COVID UPDATE >>

Tasmania has recorded 1,885 new Covid cases overnight bringing the total number of active caes to 12,790 across the state.

The state’s death toll has hit 33 overnight after Public Health confirmed a man in his 90s had died with the virus at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said while case numbers are currently elevated due an outbreak of the BA2 variant, hospitalisations remain low.

“There are currently 41 people in hospital with COVID and of these, 18 are being treated specifically for COVID. There is currently one person being cared for in the ICU.” said Mr Rockliff.

“More than 67.49 per cent of Tasmanians have now received their booster dose, and we want to see even more people turn up and boost their protection against COVID, particularly before we head into the winter season. Importantly, 83 per cent of our over 50 population have now been boosted.”

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Vulnerable and older Tasmanians are being encouraged to get their fourth dose of the vaccine as the state records a further 2,365 Covid cases overnight, bringing the total number of active cases to 12,799.

Describing the second booster shot as a ‘winter dose’, Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the jab would provide maximum protection against Covid heading into the cooler months.

“We know our immunity against the Omicron variant starts to decline after a few months, so I encourage all eligible people to please follow the Public Health advice and get their second booster,” said Mr Rockliff.

“The groups identified by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) as most at risk, and are therefore eligible to get a booster include those 65 years and over, residents of aged care and disability facilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 50 and over, and people with severe immunocompromise.”

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Up to 150,000 Tasmanians are now eligble to receive this dose at GPs and pharmacies across the state.

Public Health recommends both the Pfzier and Moderna vaccine be administrated four months after your original booster with proof of vaccination required.

The Health Minister said he was aware of a degree of vaccine fatigue in the community but urged Tasmanians to not be complacent and help keep the state one of the “safest places on the planet”.

The number of residents hospitalised with the virus rose by four on Thursday to 43, however only 17 people are being treated specifically for Covid, with 26 cases being treated for unrelated medical conditions.

Only one person remains in the intensive care unit.

A total of 97.69 per cent of Tasmanians over the age of 12 have received their second vaccination while 67.31 per cent of people over 16 and 82.86 per cent of people over 50 have received their booster shot.

63.99 per cent of children aged five to 11 years old have received their first dose while 45.89 per cent have received their second.

The state has recorded a total of 103,766 cases since December 15 and 32 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

Tasmanians can book their second booster dose through their GP or pharmacy, or for state-run clinics call the Public Health Hotline: [phone]

Covid death toll and hospitalisations rise

Wednesday, March 6

Another Tasmanian has died with Covid as the virus runs rampant across the state, infecting a record number of people.

A man in his late 70s has become the 32nd Tasmanian to have died with Covid, recorded in the latest Public Health statistics overnight.

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff confirmed he passed away in the North West Regional Hospital Intensive Care Unit on April 2.

“I would like to pass on my sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the man who sadly passed away.” said Mr Rockliff.

The state recorded another 2,408 new cases on Wednesday with a total of 12,720 people currently in isolation, infected with the virus.

39 people have been admitted into hospital with the virus, but only 19 are being treated specifically with Covid and one person is in the ICU.

The state has surpassed over 100,000 total cases while 88,696 Tasmanians have recovered from the virus.

Mr Rockliff said more than 67.08% of residents had now received their booster dose.

”We want to see even more people turn up and boost their protection against Covid, particularly before we head into the winter season,” he said.

“Importantly, 82.70 per cent of our over 50 population have now been boosted.”