There have been over 2556 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza in Tasmania

There seems to be illness everywhere in Tasmania at the moment but is it Covid or the flu? LATEST COVID-19 AND FLU STATS >>

TASMANIA is experiencing its worst flu season in five years amid continued high daily Covid numbers.

There have been over 2556 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza in Tasmania this year.

State Health Commander Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said a significant increase in the flu had been expected after two years of near absence.

“While the number of notifications of lab-diagnosed influenza does not represent the full extent of influenza activity, there have been 2556 lab-confirmed diagnoses of influenza in Tasmania as of 17 July,” Ms Morgan-Wicks said.

“The 2022 influenza season to date can be characterised as a sharp increase in diagnoses of influenza across May and June, with a decline in reported cases in recent weeks. The majority of notifications have occurred in children and adolescents.”

Ms Morgan-Wicks said 265,100 influenza vaccines had been administered in Tasmania, representing 46 per cent of the Tasmanian population receiving an influenza vaccine, including 80 per cent of those aged 65 years and older.

Secretary and Head of Agency at Department of Health Tasmania Kathrine Morgan- Wicks, Evelyn Williams 11 grabs a Chupa Chups after receiving her flu vaccination with her dad Thomas at Collins Street, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“It’s important to note that this year’s influenza season is not over. Winter respiratory viruses – influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Covid-19 – will continue to circulate in the community and it’s not too late for people to protect themselves against severe outcomes from these illnesses by staying up-to-date with their vaccinations,” she said.

Covid continues to dominate in terms of confirmed cases of winter illness, with another 1175 cases recorded on Thursday.

(Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)

There were 7549 active cases on Thursday and 220,000 people recovered.

There were 44 people in hospital being treated specifically for Covid with four in intensive care.

Four more Covid deaths were reported: A woman in her 90s in the south, a man in his 90s in the north, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 80s in the north-west.

Ms Morgan-Wicks said, as was the case across the country, Tasmanian hospitals were feeling the strain from the rise in hospitalisations and staff absences related to respiratory viruses, including the BA.4/5 Covid-19 variant and other winter illnesses such as influenza.

“We have planned and prepared extensively for this busy winter period by increasing bed capacity in our hospitals and investing in hospital avoidance strategies to provide care and support for people in the community with initiatives like COVID@homeplus,” she said.

The state government is continuing to offer free flu vaccines through community vaccination clinics, in addition to free Covid vaccines.