Almost 200 quarantine exemptions have been granted to essential workers entering Tasmania since the G2G PASS was launched last month.
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Between July 16 and 31, there were 195 applications endorsed for exemption for those considered to have specialist skills, with most from NSW, Queensland and South Australia, with 11 from Victoria.
On Wednesday State Controller Darren Hine said there was a very high threshold placed on anyone coming from Victoria wishing to be classed as an essential worker, before they enter Tasmania.
It comes after the Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Department released a list of the types of specialist skills endorsed for exemption. They included bricklayers, a boat repairer and a lineworker.
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The list was heavily criticised by unions, who have renewed calls for more details about why these workers were seen as critical for Tasmania.
However, Mr Hine said while processes had been adapted to ensure Tasmanians were protected, it wasn't his job to sign off and check if those skills were already available.
"I'm not going through the internet to see if there's someone in Tasmania to see if they can do those skills," he said.
Meanwhile, Tasmanians returning to the state after having medical treatment in Victoria are unlikely to receive an exemption from isolation as they have travelled to an "affected region".
A State Control spokesperson said each case was assessed individually and "for compassionate and medical reasons they could be permitted to isolate at home rather than in a government hotel".
Launceston Medical Centre director Dr Jerome Muir Wilson said GPs were struggling to assist patients impacted by cancelled elective surgeries in Victoria, including referrals to other states.
"We've been told we can refer interstate, but not the practicalities of how to do it," he said.
"I have two patients awaiting heart surgery that can't be offered in Tasmania.
"They are currently medically managed OK, but if there medicine stops working, then we don't have an easy back up plan.
"It's easier for private patients because the pathways are there and their insurance will pay. But it's a lot harder for those public patients."
Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the Tasmanian Health Service was continuing to work with providers in South Australia and NSW to ensure Tasmanians could access safe interstate services where necessary.
"Unfortunately we have seen an impact on the ability of Tasmanians to access some non-urgent interstate services, due to the COVID situation in Victoria," she said.
"I am assured that urgent and emergency aeromedical transfers between our major hospitals and interstate hospitals are continuing to occur, and any non-urgent public procedures that are not able to be performed in Tasmania are being worked through on a case by case basis."
Ms Courtney said more than 300 elective surgeries were being performed in Tasmania every week, with the THS now "essentially working at pre-COVID levels".
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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.
