Media release – Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, 30 March 2021
Qld and NSW COVID-19 outbreak update
The Tasmanian Director of Public Health has declared further premises as high-risk in both Queensland and New South Wales today following the confirmation of further COVID-19 cases related to outbreaks in those states.
A list of high-risk premises can be found at https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/coming-to-tasmania/travel-alert.This list is being updated regularly.
Anyone who has visited any of the premises declared as high-risk premises in Greater Brisbane, South-East Queensland, or Byron Bay in NSW, will be required to quarantine for 14 days at suitable premises.
Recent arrivals from both Queensland and NSW will receive SMS messages asking people to check the list of high-risk premises and to contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 if they were at any of the premises at the specific times listed.
Anyone who has any symptoms, even mild, should contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange a test.
Media release – Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, State Health Commander, 30 March 2021
Coronavirus testing and hotline update
There has been significant demand for COVID-19 testing in Tasmania today in relation to the Queensland outbreaks.
Tasmania is on track to perform a record number of tests, with more than 1400 tests expected to be carried out today.
I thank everyone for their patience and apologise for the delays. I want to assure everyone who needs to get a COVID-19 test that they will be tested, and they should remain isolated until that occurs.
Extra staff have been deployed to the Public Health Hotline and an additional site has been opened today to help manage call volume.
The hotline will stay open to 9pm tonight and tomorrow night to enable more people to book a test.
In terms of testing, additional testing capacity has been mobilised to the North-West, Launceston and Hobart testing clinics.
An additional clinic is being stood up in Kingston tomorrow. People will need to call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to book an appointment.
From tomorrow, people will need to book an appointment to attend the Launceston testing clinic rather than simply drive up. This change has been made to speed up the testing procedure and reduce traffic congestion at the site. Requiring people to book avoids delays at the clinic by having people give health authorities the necessary information when they book rather than at the clinic. People will need to call 1800 671 738 to book an appointment.
I can assure people that our testing staff and our hotline staff are doing everything they can to ensure everyone who requires a test gets one as quickly as possible.
