The Health Department is urging people with flu-like illness to avoid visiting patients at hospital.
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It comes as the number of reported cases of influenza in Tasmania this year reaches 1501 - more than three times the total number of cases reported in 2018.
Executive Director of Operations for the state's South Susan Gannon said the advice of the Health Department was that it had been an "unremarkable" flu season so far.
However, she said there was considerable influenza in the community, as occurs each year around this time.
"If you are unwell and your visit is unavoidable, immediately tell a nurse when you arrive at the hospital that you may be unwell to seek further advice about your visit," Ms Gannon said.
"Most people with influenza do not need to come to hospital for treatment unless they are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other complications arising from the flu.
If you have flu-like symptoms consider seeing your GP - please call ahead to let the surgery know of your illness so they can advise you."
Ms Gannon said there was a range of measures in place to minimise the risk of flu spreading within hospitals, including managing those patients affected and ongoing ward cleaning.
"Tasmania's health agencies have worked together in the lead up to winter to increase capacity at each of our major hospitals around the state for Tasmanians in need of care," she said.
"A number of actions have been implemented under our winter plan, including raising awareness of winter illnesses and their prevention."
The flu vaccine is free to:
- People aged 65 years and over
- All Aboriginal and Torres Strait people aged over six months
- Pregnant women
- People aged six months and over with medical conditions such as lung or heart disease, severe asthma, impaired immunity or diabetes. All these conditions increase the risk of flu complications
- Children from six months to less than five years can receive a free state government-funded flu vaccine again this year
- Visit www.flu.tas.gov.au for more info.
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
