As COVID cases in Tasmania continue to soar and vaccination rates plateau, the Liberal Government needs to outline how it plans to deal with COVID as winter approaches.
With almost 2,500 new cases in the latest reporting period and almost 13,000 active cases, Tasmanians remain confused and anxious about the increased infection rates.
At the same time, vaccination rates for children aged five to 11 remain too low, particularly in the state’s regional areas and COVID is running rampant in our schools
It is clear that the Liberal Government needs to do more to keep Tasmanians informed, encourage vaccinations and provide better public education.
But, instead, it has abandoned its responsibility to Tasmanians and cancelled Parliamentary sittings next week to focus on who will be the next Premier.
Tasmanians and the government worked hard to keep each other safe during the first wave of COVID, with regular health advice, updates on case numbers and a clear management plan informing our community’s response, economic and social support and our health systems and schools.
But since the border reopening, confusion and disruptions across our schools, health system, public transport and economy have grown and the government has had no clear plan to manage COVID in our community.
With COVID cases likely to rise further as the days become colder, it is vital that the government focusses on Tasmanians not itself and outlines its plan to manage COVID in our community.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
