The Tasmanian Government has prioritised the health and safety of Tasmanians at every step throughout the pandemic.
As we reopen our borders, we are continuing to take a careful and cautious approach.
It’s why we haven’t reopened our borders at 80 per cent vaccination rate, holding firm to achieve the higher percentage of 90 per cent of fully vaccinated Tasmanians over the age of 12, with all having had the opportunity for the vaccine prior to 15 December.
Vaccination is not only the best way to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community against COVID-19, it is also one of the best ways to ensure our hospitals do not become overwhelmed.
We know that 95 per cent of people in NSW who were hospitalised with COVID-19 were not fully vaccinated.
In a highly vaccinated population, the majority of people are likely to only experience mild symptoms and do not require hospitalisation.
In Tasmania, we are finalising a COVID@Home plan, which recognises home is the preferred treatment setting for those with mild symptoms, while ensuring patients are safe and supported.
COVID-positive patients will be initially assessed and triaged by a team of Department of Health clinicians, with engagement also occurring with any existing care providers such as a GP, to determine the most suitable environment and support level required for that patient, at home, in a community care facility or if seriously ill, in hospital.
Centralised monitoring of health and wellbeing needs will occur as part of the COVID@Home model, with a team of health professionals available 24/7 to provide support for up to 2500 people should that be required.
Daily remote monitoring will be enabled through simple to use smart devices, which include home pulse and oxygen monitors. This technology has already been successfully trialled with COVID-19 patients in hotel quarantine. Telehealth consultations with clinicians can also be facilitated through the MyCare Manager portal.
The COVID@Home program will be rolled out statewide, including regional and rural areas, with teams set up in each region to deploy the devices, which operate using the mobile network. Should you live in an area of the State that does not have reliable mobile network, we will work with you to advise on the best location for your COVID-19 recovery, which may be in a Community Care Facility.
We have 75 community care beds available in two separate facilities in the North and South of the State, to accommodate people diagnosed with COVID-19 that are unable to safely recover in isolation at home.
Should a participant’s condition worsen and clinicians determine escalation of care is required to an inpatient bed, plans are in place to enable direct admission to hospital, bypassing the emergency department.
We are as prepared as we can be for the small percentage of people who do get very ill with COVID-19 and require hospitalisation.
Our health system preparedness includes 152 new beds being added to our bed capacity by December this year.
Our escalation plans also provide at their highest level, for a surge capacity of up to 211 COVID ward beds across the State and up to 114 ICU surge beds.
We will have 367 ventilators available in the State, and we already have a secure six-month pandemic stockpile of the critical PPE that will be required.
In terms of health staff, we have employed 840 additional FTEs since July last year, and we are still recruiting. With a fully vaccinated health workforce, and our higher vaccination target of 90 per cent of the eligible population vaccinated, we are confident we are well placed to meet the demands on our health system of COVID-19.
It’s extraordinary that Labor is choosing to politicise the pandemic, disregard the additional resourcing and planning that has gone into our healthcare settings, and cause unnecessary fear in the community.
What Tasmanians need right now is certainty, and Labor throwing stones from the fence-line is nothing short of disgraceful.
Tasmanians can be assured the Government, is working hard to ensure Tasmania is fully prepared for a safe and sensible reopening.