The criteria for COVID-19 testing in Tasmania will be expanded in the North and the South of the state over the coming days.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the criteria would be expanded to include testing of people experiencing respiratory symptoms.
Coronavirus: All the latest updates on COVID-19 for Tasmania
"We will be writing to GPs in those regions [on Thursday] around the expanded guidelines," Ms Courtney said.
"If you are in the North of the state or the South of the state, know your symptoms.
"If you are quite unwell and think you have coronavirus, please call your GP or the Public Health Hotline."
Ms Courtney said testing numbers in the North-West were pleasing but she wanted to see more people coming forward to be tested if they had any COVID-19 symptoms.
In other news:
She said 242 people presented for testing on Wednesday, 46 people in the South, 28 in the North and 168 in the North-West.
"We still have capacity so please be aware of your symptoms," Ms Courtney said.
Public Health director Mark Veitch said he wanted to promote further testing of people in the North-West.
"We need to be aiming to get 200 or more people tested a day in the North-West over the coming days to give us a strong sense of whether or not there is any evidence of the disease in the community after the large outbreak that occurred [at Burnie]," Dr Veitch said.
"That's how we can determine the safety of the North-West.
"That's how we can determine how the higher-level restrictions in the North-West can be adjusted.
"Please if you are in the North-West and you have any symptoms, even as mild as a runny nose, come forward and get tested."
Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.