Tassie records staggering new Covid case high as BA.2 variant runs rampant

Covid cases in Tasmania have hit a record high as Public Health reveals more than 100 schools across Tasmania are experiencing Covid outbreaks. SEE STATS >>

More than 100 schools across Tasmania are experiencing Covid outbreaks, Public Health deputy director Dr Julie Graham says.

It comes as schools like Hobart College in Mount Nelson and Rosny College have sent messages to parents requiring extra testing three times in the coming week to combat the spike.

Rosny College said in a letter to parents each student would receive a box of five rapid antigen tests (RATs) of a breakout at the school and have also asked parents to test their children three times in the next six days.

The state recorded 124 outbreaks in schools as of Tuesday, defined as five or more cases presenting in students and staff from a specific group within one week.

Dr Graham said 65 schools experienced “school outbreaks”, where three or more group outbreaks arise within seven days.

“This figure includes 60 primary schools and five secondary schools,” she said.

The outbreak comes after about 5000 young people flocked to music festival Party in the Apocalypse at Cornelian Bay over the weekend, but Dr Graham said Public Health no data linked the event with school Covid outbreaks.

“Many areas in Tasmania are seeing increasing numbers of cases and Public Health urges anyone with symptoms who has attended the Party in the Apocalypse or other large events to isolate and get tested,” she said.

“The departments of Public Health and Education are continuing to work closely together to manage all current outbreaks.”

Dr Graham said planning for term two was underway, saying no changes to school procedures were imminent.

Tassie records staggering new Covid case high as BA.2 variant runs rampant

Tasmania has recorded another record high in Covid cases with 2472 new cases detected, making up 11,902 active cases across the state.

Another Covid-related death was added to Public Health’s toll overnight, although Health Minister Jermey Rockliff said it had occured earlier this month.

“Following a clinical review undertaken by the Tasmanian Health Service, Public Health has reported that a man in his Iate 60s with other co-morbidities passed away at the Launceston General Hospital on March 9, 2022,” said Mr Rockliff.

Multiple schools across Hobart have declared an outbreak within the community including Hobart College in Mount Nelson, who have a cohort of around 1000 students.

The school informed parents and carers of a spike in cases inside classrooms this morning via text message.

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“Dear Parent/Carer, Public Health have confirmed an outbreak at our school. This may be unsettling, but we are working with Public Health and following their advice.” read the message.

“They have instructed that you test your young person before school tomorrow – 30 March, Friday 1 April and Monday 4 April with a rapid antigen test (RAT).”

Jeremy Rockliff deputy premier and minister for health. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Rosny College alerted parents of a breakout at the school and have also asked parents to test their children three times in the next six days.

“Each student will be supplied with a box of five rapid antigen tests today during Support Group. This should suffice the testing requirements as outlined above,” Principal Sandy Menadue said in a letter to parents.

“We are monitoring this situation and will let you know when the outbreak has ended.”

The outbreak comes after thousands of young people flocked to the music festival Party in the Apocalypse at Cornelian Bay over the weekend.

The event reached capacity of around 5000 people on Friday and Saturday with restrictions like masks and social distancing eased.

Premier Peter Gutwein said although case numbers are currently elevated, Public Health has indicated that we could see cases spike even further between 2000 and 3000 over the next couple of weeks.

“Obviously we’re going through a period where there’s a slightly elevated level of cases and again Public Health are of the view that over the next two to four weeks, that should start to dissipate and we should return to more normal levels.”

Mr Gutwein on Wednesday morning emerged from Covid isolation after being declared a close contact of a case in his family.

“Getting out this morning was fabulous and I’ll make this point: the last seven days I’ve actually spent more time in my house with my family, that seven-day continuous period, than at any time since COVID began,” he said.

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“It was really nice to connect with my family, I continued to work though.

“I was a close contact, not a case, and so I attended most of the meetings that were already scheduled by WebEx and obviously spent a lot of time on the phone which my wife wasn’t all that happy with at times.

“The main concern that my family had is my daughter turns 18 next Tuesday and she was just hoping that she’d be out of isolation in time for that.”

As the BA.2 variant runs rampant, hospitalisation rates remain low with 22 people in hospital with the virus and just 10 being treated specifically for Covid, while two patients are in intensive care.

More than 65.85 per cent of Tasmanians have now received their booster dose with the Health Minister urging more of hte population to turn up and get their third shot coming into the cooler months.

“We want to see even more people turn up and boost their protection against COVID, particularly before we head into the winter season. Importantly, 81.8 per cent of our over 50 population have now been boosted.”

Tasmania is leading the country with children vaccinations with over 63 per cent of five to 11-year-olds vaccinated with one dose and 39.87 per cent fully vaccinated with their second dose.

Tassie records highest daily Covid toll since start of pandemic

Tasmania has recorded its highest number of daily Covid cases since the start of the pandemic, with 2324 new infections detected and 11,415 active cases currently across the state.

Another person has died with the virus overnight bringing the state’s death toll to 30 people.

Despite the surge in infections hospitalisations have dropped with 22 people in hospital with the virus, but only five people being treated specficially for Covid.

A total of 84,298 people have caught the virus since borders reopened on December 15 2021.

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