COVID-19 INFORMATION

COVID-19 VACCINATION INFORMATION – Update from Primary Health Tasmania 

Tasmanians are urged to be patient as the COVID-19 vaccination program is gradually rolled out.

All eligible Tasmanians will have the opportunity to be vaccinated in coming months, starting with the elderly and other vulnerable people and frontline healthcare workers.

To see when you or a loved one can get your vaccination, go to the online Vaccine Eligibility Checker. If you are eligible now, you will be able to go through to the Vaccine Clinic Finder to find a general practice, Tasmanian Government community clinic, or Australian Government-funded respiratory clinic that is providing vaccinations in your area.

If you prefer not to use the online option, you can call the National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 1800 020 080.

It’s important to note that not all general practices have chosen to deliver the vaccine at this stage. And those who have decided to participate only have access to limited supplies of vaccine, which they will be receiving at different times over coming weeks.

If your own general practice is delivering the vaccine and you’re eligible under Phase 1B* (see below), it’s likely that they will get in direct contact with you. You could also try checking their website to see if there is information about their involvement in the vaccination program.

Please don’t call them to make an appointment if you’re not eligible under Phase 1B – general practices have been inundated with vaccination inquiries which can make it difficult for sick patients to get through to them.

If you are eligible under Phase 1B and your regular general practice isn’t providing the vaccine, you could consider making an appointment at a Tasmanian Government community clinic or Australian Government-funded respiratory clinic. Appointments at these clinics will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. They can be made via the Vaccine Eligibility Checker or vaccination helpline mentioned above. These clinics are being added to the national booking system as they come online.

*Phase 1B is for people aged 70 and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 55, adults with certain medical conditions, healthcare workers, and critical high-risk workers. Full details of the rollout phases is available on the Australian Department of Health website.

More information about the COVID-19 vaccination program is available on the Australian Department of Health website and the Tasmanian Government coronavirus website.

 

COMMUNITY SAFETY – COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) INFORMATION

The health and safety of our staff and community is Glamorgan Spring Bay’s number one priority and we are actively taking measures respond to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic.   

In the interest of public safety, we have made changes to the way we deliver services in accordance with advice from the Department of Health. Council has enacted its Pandemic Plan to ensure we maintain an appropriate level of service to the community.

To reduce the number of face-to-face interactions, we encourage you to interact with Council the following ways:

Protect yourself, protect others

Protect yourself and others by washing your hands regularly, maintaining physical distancing when you go out, and downloading the COVIDSafe app.

Call your GP or the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to be tested for COVID-19 if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms.

It is recommended that Indigenous people over the age of 50; people over the age of 65 with existing health conditions; and anyone over the age of 70 should continue to stay at home as much as possible to protect their health.

Community members are encouraged to check in on vulnerable residents by phone or online to provide social connection and see if they need assistance.

The Government has introduced a staged response to easing restrictions throughout the Tasmania.

Parks, Reserves and Playgrounds – are now open – social distancing must still be observed.  The playground equipment is not sanitised.

  • Unwell adults or children are not permitted to use the playground equipment
  • Unwell children should not play with other children
  • Wash your hands before and after using equipment
  • Stay at least 1.5m apart
  • Children’s hands should be cleaned thoroughly before and after using the equipment.

Useful resources:

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

State Government financial support

The Tasmanian Government is providing further support and economic stimulus to help businesses affected by COVID-19. See Stimulus and support for more information.

Australian Government financial support

Information about Australian Government support for businesses is available on the Treasury website.

Where to get help

National Debt Helpline

The National Debt Helpline’s (1800 007 007) financial counsellors provide free, independent and confidential advice to help you manage your debts or negotiate with creditors. The National Debt Helpline website also has step-by-step guides and useful information on how to deal with specific types of debts.

Business Tasmania

If your business has been impacted by coronavirus, you are encouraged to contact Business Tasmania on 1800 440 026 to discuss your situation and register your impact. You can also fill out the online form on the Business Tasmania website.

Tourism Tasmania

Information for Tasmanian tourism operators is available on the Tourism Tasmania website

Printable resources:

For a range of print-friendly posters, flyers and fact sheets please go to coronavirus.tas.gov.au/resources.

Mental health support:

If you are feeling distressed, seek support:

More mental health resources are available on coronavirus.tas.gov.au.

Emergency Relief support:

For emergency relief support including emergency food relief visit https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/families-community/emergency-relief-support

 

Tasmanian Government announced more businesses will be required to use the Check in Tas app by 31 July.

  • The Contact Tracing Direction has been revised by the Director of Public Health.
  • From 7 July 2021 the requirement for a person to be at a location for at least 15 minutes before being required to use Check in TAS has been removed. Each time a person enters a relevant location they must use Check in TAS regardless of how long they stay.
  • From 31 July 2021 the relevant locations requiring the use of Check in TAS will be expanded.  The new premises include:
    • food courts;
    • mobile food vans and stalls, except where the van or stall is located within a retail location or a market;
    • retail premises including shops, pharmacies, supermarkets and other similar premises;
    • shopping centres;
    • markets, fairs and other similar premises;
    • libraries;
    • schools that provide kindergarten, primary education or secondary education, with the exception of home education;
    • child care centres, other than a child care service that is provided at a residential premises for children that live there;
    • accommodation locations, including hotels, motels, serviced apartments, hostels, boarding houses, caravan parks, campsites and camping areas, bed and breakfasts and short stay accommodation, except where the premises is the persons’ residential premises;
    • certain medical facilities;
    • residential aged care facilities;
    • certain mobile service providers who provide services at residential premises such as beauty therapist, hairdressers and personal trainers; and
    • veterinary and animal care locations.
  • The requirements do not apply to:
    • a person responding to an emergency.
    • school students when they are at school or on a school excursion; and
    • parents of children at childcare and students at kindergarten or primary school when dropping off or collecting a child or student from school.

 

Staff who work at any of the above premises are required to check in each day they work.

Businesses can register for the Check in Tas app QR code here. Business Tasmania is providing a range of support to businesses who may require assistance regarding the app.

To access this support businesses are asked to –

 

 

A Wastewater Testing Program is being established in Tasmania from mid-April 2021 as part of surveillance for COVID-19. Wastewater samples will be collected from sites across the State, selected by the Department of Health based on factors including population size, location, and ability to access samples. Information is available on the coronavirus website here https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/wastewater.