WE MUST BE AT THE READY

AGLANCE at today’s edition presents perfectly the dilemma facing Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. On one hand we have the nurses’ union warning us that the state’s aged care system is nowhere near ready to cope with a new outbreak of corona virus.

In August, the Mercury reported that there had been no unannounced safety checks at Tasmanian aged care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Figures obtained from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission reveal that between March 16 and August 14, 2020, a period that included the deadly corona virus outbreak in Tasmania’s North-West, zero unannounced visits were conducted.

By comparison, there were 63 unannounced visits made in each of NSW and Victoria ,55 in Queensland and 20 in South Australia.

In initially delaying the border reopening date to December 1, Mr Gutwein said aged care preparedness was one of his main concerns – a challenging issue to address given the sector is managed by the federal government.

Since, there have been inspections made, and the government says it is now satisfied the sector is as prepared as it can be.

But Australian Nursing and Midwifery state secretary Emily Shepherd gave evidence to a state parliamentary committee investigating the response to the C OVID -19 pandemic that her members were concerned.

Everything we have done, everything that we have given up to date has been to protect society’ s most vulnerable.

We already know aged care facilities are stretched and we also know that, if the virus enters these homes, it’ s a death sentence for many residents.

But, on the other hand, we have compelling concerns raised by our business community and those who have been hit the hardest by lock downs followed by long border closures. The Tasmania n hospitality industry is calling for another round of the Make Yourself at Home voucher scheme to help restaurants, caf es, pub sand bars.

It’s also calling for restrictions to be eased to allow more people into venues and for the Premier to announce by October 14 a border opening date. Mr Gut we in most recently indicated he would consider moving back the December 1 opening date to the end of this month if other states maintained control of any out breaks.

The decision ha stores ton the fact eradication was never the planned outcome of restrictions. The strategy employed in Australia has been about flattening the curve–a feat that all states bar Victoria have managed to achieve.

Deciding exactly when to open the borders will be challenging but at some point we absolutely need to take that step and, if we’re not adequately prepared now, what exactly do we need to do and by when to ensure that we are?