Tas records 12 cases, most since reopening
Tasmania has reported a second day of increasing new COVID-19 infections. Photo: AAP
Tasmania has recorded 12 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily number since it reopened borders a week ago.
The infections, reported on Wednesday, bring the island state’s number of active cases to 26.
All of the active cases have been recorded since the island reopened to fully vaccinated travellers from the mainland on December 15.
Eighteen cases are being managed at home, four are in a community case management facility and four are still being assessed or processed. None are in hospital.
The state government opened additional mobile testing clinics in Hobart and Launceston on Wednesday to deal with a spike in demand.
Premier Peter Gutwein has defended the state government’s reopening plan, after the Greens called for Tasmania to again close to Victoria, NSW and the ACT.
“I can understand that there is some anxiousness and that’s quite okay,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“As we move forward we need to learn to live with COVID. While some people would prefer us to stand still, we need to keep moving forward.”
Tasmania on Tuesday implemented a mask mandate for all indoor venues, plus public transport and ride-sharing services.
More than 90 per cent of Tasmanians aged over 12 are fully vaccinated.
– AAP