Tassie Covid deaths hit 100

TASMANIA has reached the grim milestone of 100 Covid deaths since the pandemic began after three more deaths were recorded in the latest reporting period.

Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff on Friday confirmed two people in their 90s and one person in their 70s had died in the state’s North.

“I extend my sincere condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones,” Mr Rockliff said.

The number of Tasmanian cases since December 2021 is nearing 200,000, with 1589 new cases recorded overnight Thursday, adding up to 198,888.

There were 8927 active cases and 88 people in hospital with Covid, 22 of them being treated specifically for Covid. Three were in the ICU. On Friday the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) moved to level three of its Covid management escalation plan, as the number of Covid positive inpatients and staff absences put pressure on the hospital.

It means a possible reduction in the number of elective surgeries performed and 30 minutes instead of an hour for visitation.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the Launceston General Hospital and NWRH were in crisis.

“The flow-on effect from this will mean that more people will be languishing on the elective surgery wait list for longer,” Ms White said.

“Tasmanians have also been told to avoid presenting to the emergency department at the NWRH to ease the stress currently on the system.”

Mr Rockliff said there were 16 patients at the NWRH with Covid. “Five of those patients are being treated specifically for Covid,” he said. Four staff have also contracted Covid.

“That escalation level three relates to demand pressures, it also relates to the staff absences,” Mr Rockliff said.

“Nurses and doctors are working through as best as possible.”

There are 34 patients at the Launceston General Hospital being treated for Covid along with seven staff.

It’s not known if they contracted Covid at the hospital.

Health commander Dale Webster said there were three wards closed to the public.

“They’re closed to visitors, they’re closed to new admissions so we can contain it,” Mr Webster said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s under control, I’d say we are managing it.”

During June, daily case numbers stayed below 1000 cases, except for the last three days of the month.

On Wednesday, Mr Rockliff said Tasmania was recording higher daily numbers because of the BA4 and BA5 subvariant strains and that cases would likely peak in the coming months.