Paintball business feels the Covid pinch

Health authorities admit staffing levels at a North West hospital have taken a hit, as more patients test positive for coronavirus. LATEST COVID NEWS >>

Health authorities admit staffing levels at the Mersey Community Hospital have taken a hit, as six more patients test positive for coronavirus.

The unfolding situation was made public on Tuesday, with two patients testing positive.

It was initially not considered an outbreak, but has now been labelled a “managed outbreak.”

“We have identified eight positive Covid patients, which includes the initial patients,” health minister Jeremy Rockliff said on Wednesday.

“Four further patients who are long term admissions to the medical ward and two patients have been readmitted following discharge from the medical ward late last week.

“Two staff members have also tested positive to rapid antigen tests out of the 104 staff tested.”

Chief Medical Officer Tony Lawler said the initial cases were transferred to the North West Regional Hospital on Monday.

The outbreak has resulted in patients who discharged, returning to hospital.

“One is being transferred to the Launceston General Hospital and one is being transferred to the North West Regional Hospital for covid treatment,” Prof. Lawler said.

Professor Tony Lawler during the COVID-19 update. Picture Chris Kidd

“The remaining four patients who had already spent time as inpatients in the medical ward will remain here for treatment at the Mersey.”

Prof. Lawler said all other patients on the medical ward have tested negative but will be monitored for symptoms over the next five to seven days.

Despite the outbreak, Prof. Lawler insists those who need to attend the hospital can still do so.

“I confirm it is still safe to attend the Mersey Community Hospital if you need emergency level care, to attend an outpatient appointment or to attend for scheduled treatment,” Prof. Lawler said.

“The outbreak is affecting the medical ward with other areas of the hospital continuing to operate safely.

“I am confident all necessary steps are being taken under the THS outbreak management protocol and at this stage this is a managed outbreak.”

Prof Lawler said almost 150 tests were undertaken, including of medical, nursing and support staff.

He admitted staff numbers had taken a hit.

“There is some impact on staffing given the level of Covid transmission in the community,” Mr Lawler said.

The Mersey Community Hospital. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“We do have a number of staff who are identified as Covid cases in the North West region and also as close contacts.

He said exemptions for Covid positive staff to continue working would not be sought.

“We have a process in place to provide exemptions for staff who are close contacts who can come back if they are critically needed in the workplace.”

The Mersey Community Hospital is currently operating at level two escalation but Prof Lawler said the department was looking at increasing it to level three.

Mr Rockliff said the hospital was well prepared to handle the outbreak after North West Outbreak in 2020.

“We’ve learnt a lot from the previous Covid outbreak in the North West two years ago,” Mr Rockliff said.

“A review was done and we actioned all the recommendations so we’re in a far stronger position.”

EARLIER: It’s been confirmed several patients and a staff member at the Mersey Community Hospital have tested positive to Covid, after two patients were revealed to have contracted the virus yesterday.

Premier Peter Gutwein revealed eight patients had been linked to what’s now being considered an outbreak.

“They are actually positive cases,” Mr Gutwein said.

“It is an outbreak, it’s a managed outbreak.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Our hospital staff and public health officials are working through the testing, tracing isolation and quarantine process in terms of this outbreak and are managing it.”

The first patient to test positive at the hospital was in their sixties and was initially moved to a negative pressure room.

The second had been discharged but later tested positive.

The two positive cases were transferred to the Mersey Community Hospital.

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff will provide further details on the situation this afternoon.

Leisure business feels Covid pinch as Tasmania records new cases

IT is not just hospitality businesses dealing with really difficult trading conditions as the Covid-19 virus runs rampant in Tasmania with a paintball business recording n 80 per cent drop in customers in the past few weeks.

Hobart Paintball business owner Jarrod Taylor who is going to the wall as bookings cancelled. Picture: Richard Jupe

Hobart Paintball owner Jarrod Taylor said the downturn was due to many customers being forced to cancel their booking because they are a close contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case.

It comes as Tasmania records 1185 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours.

There are now 6323 active cases of the virus in the State and 12 of the 29 people in hospital with Covid-19 are being treated specifically for virus symptoms.

Two patients remain in ICU.

In total, almost 15,000 people have been released from isolation after recovering from the illness.

The Cambridge business owner has written to Tasmanian MP Jane Howlett to outline his plight which he says could drive him and many other local businesses to the wall.

He says he has lost $20,000 in confirmed bookings in the last few weeks and is hoping things bounce back as Tasmania eases more isolation restrictions.

Hobart Paintball business owner Jarrod Taylor who is going to the wall as bookings cancelled. Picture: Richard Jupe

Vaccinated travellers no longer need to isolate when arriving in Tasmania and the government is talking of easing isolation rules in the community down the track.

“In these past few weeks and coming up to this weekend we’ve had over 80 per cent of confirmed-deposit-paid customers forced to cancel due to close contact isolation,” Mr Taylor said.

“We don’t want government handouts. We just want to be able to trade.”

He said some customers have not been happy with the credit note offered upon cancellation and the business was dealing with flak.

“We had ordered in additional supplies to cope with what was going to be a busy few weeks and has actually ended up being the quietest period we’ve ever had.

“It is particularly difficult for a business that relies on groups of people to operate. It takes time to organise groups, most plan four or more weeks in advance.”

Mr Taylor fears he will go bust if business conditions do not ease soon.

“The current losses come on top of the $7500+ in lost revenue from the last snap lock down. This really scares us heading towards winter which is our off season.”

He told Ms Howlett, as the minster for both small business and sport and recreation, he hoped she could lobby for better grant funding for impacted businesses.