Sarah Courtney,Minister for Health
The health, safety and wellbeing of Tasmanians is our highest priority as we face the challenges presented by COVID-19.
As we take safe, gradual steps to re-open services and activities in our community, in line with our Roadmap to Recovery, community testing for COVID-19 is more important than ever.
Tasmania is now approaching 20,000 tests conducted since the pandemic began – a huge effort and a credit to our community and the hardworking staff operating our clinics.
But we know that we need to keep doing more.
Mobile testing clinics have recently been focused on the North West, and on the advice of Public Health Services these clinics will now be redeployed to new areas to ensure that we are testing as broadly as possible.
This coming weekend (16-17 May), there will be mobile clinics stationed at Scottsdale, Bothwell and Geeveston.
Public Health Services will be contacting local GP clinics and Councils to ensure that details of the exact locations are adequately promoted through the community, and people who wish to be tested at these clinics should contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
Testing will of course remain available for members of the community from areas that previously hosted the mobile clinics.
Importantly, today we have also taken the first steps on easing restrictions, in line with our plan:
- Funerals have increased from 10 to 20 attendees;
- Aged care visits have moved to one visit per week, and no more than two visitors, managed by the facility;
- Breast screening services have resumed;
- ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ parks and reserves will open to residents within 30km drive of their home; and
- TasTAFE campuses and training facilities may open for small groups of students attending practical learning and assessment sessions.
We will continue to ensure that Tasmanians are as protected as possible, and that restrictions are cautiously lifted in a careful and strategic way.
