Tasmania records 751 new Covid-19 cases

There are now five people in hospital with the virus but only one is specifically being treated for Covid-19 symptoms. The remaining four are being treated for unrelated medical conditions.

Across the state there are now 3534 active infections, a drop in daily case numbers from Wednesday’s record of 867, after a record 2958 tests were conducted at state-run clinics.

The majority of the active infections are isolating at home, while 374 are being monitored and 64 are staying in community management facilities.

In the past 24 hours, 237 people have been released from isolation.

The Supreme Court of Tasmania on Thursday suspended jury trials across the state until at least March due to the growing infection numbers.

“Because of risks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, no jury trials will be conducted until at least 15 March 2022,” Supreme Court Chief Justice Alan Blow said in a statement.

Two reasons are cited for the suspension, the first being that the “risk of exposing jurors and others to Covid-19 is unacceptable”, as jurors are “compelled to come to the court, whether they wish to or not”.

“If jury trials were to proceed with infection rates as bad as they are now, or worse, it is likely a lot of trials would be aborted,” the second reason states.

A further announcement will be made next month as to whether the suspension will continue beyond March.

Jury trials set to begin on January 31 for four weeks have been cancelled as well as the call over of matters in Hobart on January 24.

Non-jury cases will proceed following the opening of the legal year on January 28, with legal practitioners having the opportunity to dial in to court remotely.

State public health director Mark Veitch has warned of a further surge in cases, with one in 50 Tasmanians expected to contract the virus in the next week.

The current rate was one-in-170, Dr Veitch said.

He also warned there was expected to be 3000 more positive infections in the state that are yet to be diagnosed due to increased demand on PCR testing clinics.

“It could be as many as twice as many people as we’re actually diagnosing do actually have the infection,” he warned.

Cars are being turned away from drive-through clinics across the state, with a Kingston clinic refusing people hours before it opened.

Dr Veitch conceded the state’s testing system reached capacity sooner than anticipated.

There were no Covid-19 cases when Tasmania opened to mainland hotspots on December 15.

“I think the testing system has been stretched more quickly than anyone expected throughout Australia,” Dr Veitch said.

Much like other parts of the country, Tasmania’s hospital systems have been overrun with the virus, with 50 staff at the Royal Hobart Hospital now contracting Covid.

Five people at the Launceston General Hospital and one at the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie have also tested positive.

State health commander Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said most of the infection is from within the community.

Tasmania on Wednesday was cut off from Western Australia after the state, alongside the ACT, was moved to the “extreme Covid risk” category.

The recategorisation comes into effect at 12.01am Saturday.

WA Premier Mark McGowan has warned all travelling residents to go home or risk being locked out.

“Once the reclassification takes effect, they will not be able to do so, except for the most extraordinary circumstances,” Mr McGowan said.

Originally published as Tasmania records 751 new Covid-19 cases as authorities warn surge is imminent