Tasmania’s Covid tally passes 3000 with 751 new cases

Rapid antigen tests will soon become the primary tool to detect cases of Covid, as nurses warn they are at breaking point as the health service battles staff shortages. LATEST DETAILS >>

EXHAUSTED nurses warn they are near breaking point, prompting the nurses and midwives union to ask the state government to pay their under-pressure members a special Covid-19 allowance.

The Australian Nurses and Midwifery Federation said its members were being stretched to the limit even before a predicted jump in hospital admissions.

It has written asking the allowance be comparable to the Victorian entitlement of up to $120 per double shift for nurses in red zones caring for patients in intensive care units, emergency departments and areas with known Covid-19 patients.

That would reduce to $60 in an amber zone.

The ANMF Tasmanian branch said it was being inundated with calls from frontline members dealing with the outbreak of the Covid-19 Omicron strain.

Tasmanian branch secretary Emily Shepherd said members in testing and vaccination clinics had been overrun while all areas of the health service were battling with staffing shortages and much higher workloads.

The Royal Hobart Hospital has escalated to Level 3 with 50 staff members off work after testing positive to Covid-19 or being a close contact of someone who has.

Ms Shepherd said the health system was getting by on the goodwill of nurses and midwives picking up extra shifts, working overtime and doing double shifts.

“Our concerns regarding an absence of a workforce plan prior to borders being opened have now been realised just two weeks later,” she said.

Major changes to Covid testing regime

THERE have been big changes to Covid testing in Tasmania.

People who get a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) result will no longer need a follow-up PCR test but they will have to register the RAT result with Public Health.

RATs will also no longer be given out at airports and a plan to distribute them at post offices has been ditched.

It is a significant turnaround from previous advice that a positive RAT must be followed up with a PCR test.

Premier Peter Gutwein announced the changes on Thursday afternoon that RATs would soon become the primary diagnostic tool to detect cases of Covid in the same way as PCR tests.

And the postal workers’ union revealed that after discussions with Australia Post, a plan for a national trial of RAT distribution in Tasmanian post offices had been abandoned.

Tasmanians who test positive with a RAT will now have to register their results with Public Health – either by phone or online from 7pm on Thursday.

“People who have received a positive RAT result in recent days will be able to use this registration mechanism to identify themselves as a case and to obtain assistance,” Mr Gutwein said.

“This will ensure you can access assistance from Public Health Services and the COVID@home team during your illness if required.

“Proof of registration of your result will also be used for financial assistance requests and leave applications if you are an employee.

“Anyone that registers a positive RAT result will receive the same support and care as if you tested positive on a PCR test, but you must register your RAT so that we can identify you and record your case.”

Premier Peter Gutwein has updated the regulations around the use of rapid antigen tests. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Gutwein the government had secured an increased supply of RATs and a statewide distribution model was being finalised to ensure people who were symptomatic or close contacts could access the tests.

“In coming weeks, pharmacists will also be distributing RATs to specified concession card holders that are not symptomatic or close contacts,” Mr Gutwein said.

“RATs will no longer be distributed at airports and seaports in Tasmania from midnight tonight but will continue to be available for free to anyone who develops symptoms or becomes a close contact of a positive case.”

Communication, Electrical and Plumbing Unions organiser Paul Sutton said postal workers had been upset and appalled they had not been consulted about distributing RATs.

“It is awful that people won’t have access to them but we had no plan in place for staff who were worried about not just the risks to themselves but their customers, especially those who are vulnerable,” Mr Sutton said.

Labor’s health spokeswoman Anita Dow accused Mr Gutwein of “moving the goal posts” and said his premature announcement on using post offices to distribute RATs showed how much of a shambles the Covid plan was in.

“It’s also clear that – unacceptably – critical decisions are being made on the run,” Ms Dow said.

“The Premier has once again moved the goalposts, with today’s announcement a sign of the extreme pressure and stress on our health workers and health system.”

Ms Dow said the shift from PCR to RATs was a clear sign that despite government promises there simply wasn’t capacity in the system.

Mayor fears explosion in island’s Covid cases

TASMANIA has recorded another 751 new Covid-19 cases – a slight fall from Wednesday‘s record 24-hour total.

The fresh infections take the number of active cases in the state to 3534.

Almost 3000 laboratory tests were carried out on Wednesday, including from a new clinic on King Island where residents are bracing to see if several super-spreader events will result in a spike in infections.

A new drive-through clinic also opened in Kingston to try to meet demand for tests.

At the same time, 237 people were released from isolation across Tasmania after recovering from the virus.

Five people remain in hospital with the virus but were admitted for other medical reasons and none are in ICU or on ventilators.

King Island Mayor Julie Arnold said the early signs from testing on the remote Bass Strait island were not good.

Cr Arnold said 109 test results had come back and 30 were positive.

The testing clinic at the King Island Racecourse, which hosted a major race event last weekend, is operating again on Thursday and Cr Arnold expected the number of new cases to explode.

“I expect pretty poor news. I just hope those who have contracted the virus are double vaxxed and their symptoms are mild,” she said.

“Those who were tested by had no symptoms have gone back home and back to work to wait for their results before isolating.”

As of last week, 91 per cent of those aged over 16 on the island had received their first vaccination with 87 double vaxxed.

King Island bracing for case spike

THE official Covid-19 case number on King Island is three but Mayor Julie Arnold expects that number to climb sharply as results come back following several super-spreader events.

A testing team arrived on the island from mainland Tasmania on Tuesday night and testing starts at 1pm. Testing will continue on Thursday.

“RAT tests are also being used on the island in substantial numbers (150 used already). Another 100 people have been tested by local GPs,” Cr Arnold said.

“We have 1300 residents aged over 16 on the island and have had many more fly in for events like horse racing, golf, weddings and a big birthday party.”

Beef Day was held at the King Island Racecourse last weekend with a good crowd attending.

There was also a big wedding, a pre-wedding function, a 70th birthday and a function at the brewery.

The museum, which is staffed by mostly older volunteers, has closed its doors and the popular local bakery is serving takeaways only.

“After two years of no cases we are now in the same boat as everyone else. It was bound to happen and we do not want tourists to stop coming but the community is anxious,” Cr Arnold said.

“I expect everyone with any symptoms will turn up at the testing clinic.

“All in all we are so much better off than other parts of Australia. We dodged a bullet for two years but we have now been hit. It is just our turn.”

Director of Public Health Doctor Mark Veitch. Picture: Linda Higginson

Public Health director Mark Veitch said there was a concern that a positive case attended several of the large private and community events last weekend before they knew they were infectious.

He said it was of paramount importance that people come forward to get tested if they exhibited any symptoms at all.

Testing will be available at the King Island Racecourse today from 1-4pm and from 9am to 4pm Thursday. No bookings are required.

Testing organised for King Island after first Covid case

The entire population of King Island off Tasmania’s North West coast has been told to watch themselves for Covid symptoms and to isolate themselves if needs be.

A testing team will arrive on the island on Wednesday to help conduct PCR tests on the island’s approximately 1600 residents.

It comes after the small island recorded its first Covid cases this week, after having gone through the pandemic with zero recorded cases.

Local sources told the Mercury on Tuesday the local hospital had become inundated with locals wanting tests.

Public Health director Mark Veitch said there was a concern that a case attended several large private and community events late last week and over the weekend before they knew they were infectious.

He said it was of paramount importance that people come forward to get tested if they exhibit any symptoms at all.

“Anyone on King Island with any symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of how mild they may be, must isolate and get tested as soon as possible,” Dr Veitch said.

“Testing has been occurring over the past few days, but this is being increased to ensure that anyone on King Island who needs a test can get one as quickly as possible.”

Testing will be available at the Currie football ground tomorrow from 1-4pm and from 9am to 4pm Thursday. No bookings are required.