Wikipedia

COVID-19 pandemic in Tasmania

The COVID-19 pandemic in Tasmania is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

COVID-19 pandemic in Tasmania
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationTasmania, Australia
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Confirmed cases56,826[needs update]
Active cases6,450
Hospitalised cases14
Critical cases4
Recovered49,722
Deaths
26 (as of 12 Mar. 2022)
Fatality rate0.09%
Government website
coronavirus.tas.gov.au

Timeline

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2020

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Scotch Oakburn College in Tasmania closed as a preemptive decision in fear of rising SARS-CoV-2 cases. It was to be closed from 16 March until at least 30 March.[1]

On 17 March, Tasmania declared a public health emergency.[2]

On 19 March, all "non-essential" travellers to Tasmania, including returning residents, were subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine.[3]

State-wide lockdown

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Tasmania spent less than 2 months and 1 week in lockdown. On 31 March, Tasmania entered the period, much like other states.[4] This was initially expected to last a month.[5] Restrictions gradually eased in the following weeks.[6] Travel restrictions within the state were lifted on the 5th of June 2020.[7]

Burnie outbreak

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On 12 April 2020, in response to an outbreak in Burnie, business restrictions were put in place for 14 days. It included the closure of most retail businesses except for those providing essential services, or those who can provide online services and home delivery. The North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) and North West Private Hospital (NWPH) were temporarily closed from Monday 13 April 2020, and staff, patients, and visitors since 27 March, were required to self-quarantine for 14 days.[8] The self-quarantine affected up to 5,000 people. Additional testing was announced, and emergency medical teams from the Australian Defence Force were sent to Burnie to cover for hospital staff.[9]

On 1 August, the 2020 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election, deferred from 30 May to prevent the spread of COVID-19, took place.[10]

2021

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Due to a growing cluster in Bondi, Sydney, from 4 pm on 23 June Tasmania declared the City of Sydney, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra as high-risk. Border entry will not be allowed to anyone who was in those areas, on or since, 11 June without approval from the Deputy State Controller.[11][12]

On 22 July, the death of a 44-year-old man from Tasmania was linked by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), after vaccination with AstraZeneca. The man was a confirmed case of TTS.[13]

October lockdown

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On 15 October Tasmania's southern region, including Hobart, went into a 3-day lockdown at 6 pm. This followed a man positive to the Delta variant of COVID-19 escaping from hotel quarantine and being in the community for around 18 hours before police located him the next day. The man did not co-operate in tracing his contacts. The 31-year-old from Albury in NSW flew from Melbourne to Hobart on 11 October, but did not have the correct border pass. He was taken to a quarantine hotel in Hobarts' CBD, and went missing on 12 October. He falsely stated to emergency management workers that he had been in Queensland the previous 14 days, when he had actually been in NSW.[14][15]

The local government areas (LGA) affected were: Brighton Council, Central Highlands Council, City of Clarence, Derwent Valley Council, Glamorgan–Spring Bay Council, City of Glenorchy, City of Hobart, Huon Valley Council, Sorell Council, Southern Midlands Council, Tasman Council and Kingborough Council. As a result of the lockdown, The Unconformity arts festival due to start on 15 October in Queenstown was cancelled.[14]

The man who triggered the lockdown was sentenced for the COVID regulation breaches on 21 December to five months jail, two suspended, and backdated to the day he was taken into custody, 26 October. He was also fined $1,500. He received another five months jail, two suspended, for breaching a family violence order (FVO) by going to Tasmania to see the woman who held the FVO against him.[15]

December

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On 15 December, Tasmania reopened its borders to travellers. Within four days, 7 cases of COVID-19 were detected, the first 3 of them were infected with the Omicron variant.[16]

By 19 December, over 95 per cent of eligible people in Tasmania had received one vaccination, over 90 per cent had received two.[16]

On 21 December 2021 Tasmania reintroduced a requirement to wear facemasks indoors.[16]

2022

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On 20 January Tasmania had its first death since April 2020, raising total COVID deaths to 14.[17]

On 21 January another COVID related death occurred.[18]

On 24 January, there was 1 COVID-19 related death, raising the state total to 16. She was a 79-year-old woman who had underlying health conditions. There were 643 new cases, 35 hospitalised, 15 specifically for COVID-19 treatment. 3 in intensive care, 1 on a ventilator.[19]

On 25 January, there was 1 COVID-19 related death, raising the state total to 17. She was an 80-year-old woman. There were 712 new cases, 28 hospitalised, 11 specifically for COVID-19 treatment. 3 in intensive care. Active cases were at 5,094.[20]

By 30 January, there was another single COVID-19 related death, raising the state total to 18. She was a woman, in her late 80s, with underlying health conditions, at an aged care facility. There were 594 new cases to 8pm on 29 January, 20 hospitalised with COVID-19, 10 of those specifically for COVID-19 treatment. Active cases were down at 4,978.[21]
In Tasmania:
• 95% aged 12 and over were fully vaccinated
• 46% aged between 5 and 11 years old had 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine
• over 38% aged 18 and over had a booster dose[21]

On 2 February, there was a single COVID-19 related death, raising the state total to 19. It was 68-year-old man at an aged care facility. He had underlying medical condition and was in palliative care. There were 656 new cases to 8pm, 13 were hospitalised with COVID, 7 cases specifically for COVID-19 treatment, 2 of them on a ventilator. Active cases were down at 3,782 from 4,978 on 29 February.[22]

Event cancellations

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Statistics

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COVID-19 cumulative cases in Tasmania[34]

COVID-19 daily cases in Tasmania[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tasmanian school to close due to coronavirus". themercury.com.au. 15 March 2020. Archived from the original on 15 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Public Health Emergency for Tasmania declared". Tasmanian Government Department of Health. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Tasmania to enforce 'toughest border measures in the country' amid coronavirus pandemic". ABC News. 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Effects of COVID-19 strains on the Australian economy. Figure 1: Timeline of COVID-19 strains in Australia and subsequent lockdowns". Australia Bureau of Statistics. 1 June 2022. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Tasmanian households ordered to go into lockdown for four weeks due to coronavirus pandemic". The Examiner. 30 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  6. ^ "COVID-19: a chronology of state and territory government announcements (up until 30 June 2020). Table 9: Table 9: announcements made by the Tasmanian Government". Parliament of Australia. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Stage Two restrictions to be eased 3 pm Friday 5 June". Peter Gutwein (Tasmanian Premier). 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  8. ^ Department of Premier and Cabinet. (16 April 2020). "Important information for people in north-west Tasmania". Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Tasmanian Government. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Tasmania calls in ADF medics as coronavirus tally hits 150". ABC News. ABC. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Legislative Council Elections to be deferred". premier.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  11. ^ Noble, Freya; Pearson, Nick (24 June 2021). "State-by-state travel restrictions as NSW outbreak grows". 9News. Nine Digital Pty Ltd. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  12. ^ Nguyen, Kevin (24 June 2021). "Bondi COVID-19 cluster rises to 36 cases after NSW Health records 11 new infections". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  13. ^ Blackwood, Fiona (22 July 2021). "TGA links deaths of 44yo Tasmanian man and 48yo Victorian woman to AstraZeneca vaccine". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  14. ^ a b c "Hobart region enters three-day lockdown after COVID hotel quarantine breach". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  15. ^ a b MacDonald, Lucy (21 December 2021). "Tim Gunn sentenced over Hobart COVID quarantine breach which triggered 72-hour lock down". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  16. ^ a b c "Tasmanians told to wear masks indoors as three more COVID cases detected". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  17. ^ Howard, Jacqueline (20 January 2022). "Tasmania records first death since April 2020". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Tasmania suffers second COVID-19-related death as the state records 726 new cases". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Tasmania records third COVID-19 death since border reopening, state 'past the peak' for Omicron, authorities say". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Tasmania records fourth COVID-19 death since reopening border". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Fifth person dies with COVID since Tasmania's border reopening". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  22. ^ James, Ethan (3 February 2022). "Tas reports one new virus death, 656 cases". The Grenfell Record. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Dark Mofo 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus fears". ABC News. 11 March 2020. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  24. ^ "Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art to close indefinitely due to coronavirus fears". ABC. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  25. ^ "AGFEST 2020 CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19". www.agfest.com.au. Agfest. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  26. ^ "THE VIRTUAL GATES HAVE CLOSED ON A MASSIVE EVENT!". www.agfest.com.au. Agfest. 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  27. ^ "AGFEST 2021 BACK IN THE PADDOCK". www.agfest.com.au. Agfest. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  28. ^ Anderson, Dana (8 May 2021). "Wrapping up Agfest 2021's field days event". The Examiner. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  29. ^ Cygnet Folk Festival Committee and Staff (12 May 2020). "Cygnet Folk Festival 2021 Cancellation". us2.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Tasmania records four new COVID-19 cases, taking the total to 14". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  31. ^ "Legislative Council Elections to be deferred". premier.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Australian Wooden Boat Festival cancelled owing to pandemic". www.mysailing.com.au. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  33. ^ "How Australians marked New Year's Eve in a year dominated by COVID-19". ABC News. Australia. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021. Coronavirus restrictions have largely determined how millions of people across Australia have seen in 2021.
  34. ^ a b "Cases: States and Territories". covid19data.com.au. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
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