Close Contact Rules to Change Monday 2 May

Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, Minister for Health, 27 April 2022

Close contact rules to be eased from Monday

From 12:01am Monday 2 May, Tasmanians who are classified as close contacts will no longer need to quarantine for seven days, provided they comply with other Public Health measures.

This is in line with the national position in other states, public health advice, and the current epidemiological position in Tasmania, with a downward trend in cases confirming we have passed the peak of our recent COVID wave.

While these changes will be confronting for some, they are another important step in our ongoing transition to live with COVID-19 and I want to assure Tasmanians that we will be doing this safely, sensibly and in line with public health advice.

Close contacts will still be required to follow a series of measures and anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms will still be required to isolate and get tested immediately.

Close contacts must take a daily rapid antigen test, wear a face mask when outside of the home, advise their workplace of their close contact status, and avoid high-risk premises such as aged care facilities and hospitals.

Workplaces can assess the appropriateness of close contacts working from home but close contacts should avoid large gatherings, and avoid contact with those vulnerable to severe disease.

Furthermore, it will no longer be a requirement to use the Check-in TAS app at hospitality venues, although some venues may still choose to maintain their own check-in processes.

The reason we are able to take these steps, and return to a more normal way of living, is thanks to the fantastic efforts of Tasmanians to roll the sleeves up and get vaccinated.

However, while it’s encouraging to see 69 per cent of people aged 16+ and 84 per cent of people aged 50+ have had their booster, there are still more than 130,000 people who haven’t yet had a booster.

The most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and the community is turn up and get vaccinated when you are due, so please, if you haven’t already, make a booking and get your vaccination as soon as possible.

And with the colder months nearly upon us, don’t forget to get your flu vaccine as well, which you can get from GPs and pharmacies, particularly those with younger children who have not experienced a flu season.

We also continue to encourage people to be mindful that COVID continues to circulate within the community, and that it is all our responsibility to continue following COVID-safe behaviours.

Practice good hand hygiene, follow social distancing, test when you have symptoms, stay home when you are unwell, and wear masks where required to do so.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Health spokesperson, 27 April 2022

Removing Covid Protections is Irresponsible

Today’s announcement that Covid close contact restrictions will be dropped is irresponsible and potentially harmful. Case numbers are still extremely high – and most critically, Tasmanians are still dying and developing long Covid.

Winter is coming, the Covid daily case rate remains high, and the effectiveness of the third vaccine dose is waning for many Tasmanians. Now is the time for the Liberals to tighten and reinforce the importance of public health protections, not to weaken them.

Instead of abandoning critical protections, the Rockliff Government should be stepping up mask wearing education campaigns and funding ventilation upgrades.

Removing close contact isolation requirements won’t solve workplace shortages. It will just mean more people get Covid, and more people risk getting long Covid post-viral syndrome and other serious long-term complications.

Epidemiologists across Australia and the world are unified in saying the Covid pandemic is far from over. Just because Premier Rockliff and the Tasmanian Liberals want it to be over, doesn’t make it so.

In the midst of a crisis, we need to take care of each other.

To get through winter safely, Premier Rockliff’s job is to enforce the public health measures that will protect vulnerable people in the community. That means indoor mask wearing and maintaining safe distances, as well as ensuring close contacts remaining quarantined to prevent unnecessary transmission of a highly infectious virus. Encouraging anything else is irresponsible.

Media release – AMA Tasmania, 28 April 2022

COVID CLOSE CONTACT RESTRICTIONS LIFTED

Tasmania’s Public Health officials have guided Tasmanians very well during this pandemic and while AMA Tasmania understands there will be some concern about the decision to change isolation requirements for close contacts, we accept the time has come to relax those rules.

AMA Tasmania President, Dr John Saul said changes to the COVID close contact isolation rules will ease the burden on many Tasmanians of having to isolate for seven days because they have been in contact with someone with COVID but remain COVID negative themselves.

However, Dr Saul said that the danger of these changes is the public becoming far too complacent.

“With relaxation of isolation requirements for close contacts, we must not forget that COVID remains a danger for vulnerable Tasmanians, particularly the elderly and immuno-compromised.

“While we have more freedoms, it is critical that Tasmanians continue to take precautions and follow public health advice on mask wearing, vaccinations, sanitation and not mixing with other people if you could be at risk of contracting COVID because of being a close contact.

“We understand the lifting of these restrictions is critical for many services and businesses struggling to keep going with staff having to isolate. However, where close contacts can work from home, they should be encouraged and supported to do so regardless of the change in rules.

“With the privilege of no longer having to isolate as a close contact comes a responsibility on all Tasmanians to make sure they do the right thing to limit their risk of contracting COVID or of being a carrier in the community.

“It will be critical that people who have had contact with someone with COVID, wear a mask at all times, keep up to date with their sanitising measures, vaccinations and try to minimise any unnecessary contact with other people.”