Ongoing testing for coronavirus will remain crucial to Tasmania's future success when borders open to "safe states" from October 26, doctors have warned.
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However, Tasmania's testing rates have continued to drop.
On Tuesday Premier Peter Gutwein revealed the government's border strategy, with travellers to the state required to answer health questions and have a temperature check.
The strategy also outlined a plan for maintaining testing rates, stating the state has the capacity to collect and sample for around 1000 patients per day, with the ability to surge up to 2000 per day during an outbreak if required.
Tasmania's Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said while the state was aiming for about one test per 1000 people - or 530 tests a day - the number had dropped away over the course of past week.
"The number of tests done each day have varied from around 750 one day, to 250 other days," he said.
"Overall the rolling average over the last few weeks has been about .9 tests per 1000 people - so about 400-450 tests a day.
"I think we do need to pick up our testing rates."
Australian Medical Association Tasmania branch president Dr Helen McArdle welcomed the easing of border restrictions.
She said the measures had afforded the Tasmanian Health Service the period needed to consolidate resources and review procedures to safe guard the state's preparedness.
"Further, we must maintain the testing rates to ensure that we detect any cases of COVID and can respond quickly," she said.
"It is crucial that the public and GPs understand this."
The strategy highlights a benchmark for COVID-19 test results to be back within 48 hours, with Dr Veitch adding he had every confidence in Tasmania's contact tracing abilities.
Dr McArdle said it remained essential that state premiers worked together to prepare for a COVID future.
"The AMA has called for all governments - both state and federal - to set ourselves up for a future of living with the risk of the virus," she said.
"[We are] expecting that there will be, from time-to-time, small outbreaks and knowing that Tasmania has the mechanisms in place to deal with those rapidly and effectively, and therefore reducing the risk of the virus spreading from state to state means the Premier's announcement this week re planned border restrictions easing at the end of this month can be taken with some measure of reassurance."
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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.
