National

Tasmania posts 1139 new COVID-19 cases

By AAP Newswire

Jan 15, 2022

North West Regional Hospital in Burnie, Tasmania. — Tasmania's North West Regional Hospital is facing staff shortages as COVID-19 continues to bite. -AAP Image

Tasmania has reported 1139 new coronavirus cases, as overall active infection numbers in the state drop for a third straight day.

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Twenty-two people with COVID-19 are in hospital, with 10 of those being treated specifically for virus symptoms. One person is in intensive care.

The other 12 people in hospital have COVID-19 but are being treated for unrelated medical conditions.

The new infections have come from 884 self-reported rapid antigen tests and 255 PCR tests.

Tasmania's health department says 1470 people have been released from isolation in the past 24 hours.

It means there are 7108 reported active cases, down from 7439 on Friday and 7969 on Thursday.

Thirty cases are staying in community management facilities and 300 people are utilising COVID-at-home care.

It comes as elective surgery and other services at a hospital in northwest Tasmania are being reduced due to COVID-caused staff shortages.

More than 90 staff at the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie are unable to work having either caught the virus or been forced to isolate as a close contact.

Health Department deputy secretary Dale Webster said the hospital is implementing strategies to increase workforce capacity, including asking staff to reconsider taking leave.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press