Health unions and policy experts have voiced concerns over the government plan to reopen borders in December after independent modelling shows 87 deaths could follow in six months.
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Health policy analyst Martyn Goddard said in light of the findings, the decision to press ahead with opening the state by December 15 date was "foolish in the extreme".
"So far, this state has had 13 deaths in the whole pandemic, and that was in the initial outbreak in the North-West, so we have been pretty much free of this pandemic," he said.
"We've had to pay a minimal price for it, and our economy has had to pay a minimal price for it, and now opening up in this way, with what has been forecast, is in my view, foolish in the extreme."
Mr Goddard said Tasmania's social demographic meant that health planning and outcomes based on the mainland would not translate well if applied to the island.
"I believe that this state has a very different tolerance for cases for disease and death than Sydney and Melbourne do and what works for Sydney and Melbourne is not going to work here, he said."
Premier Peter Gutwein said the state had implemented "levers" to manage the impact of the virus, once the borders reopen including social and public health restrictions similar to those used in the first lockdowns last year.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary Emily Shepherd said while the date was concerning, she was confident the containment methods the government had discussed would help manage any potential outbreaks.
"Obviously, there'd be a great deal of concern for many community members in relation to the numbers that potentially could be infected with COVID-19 and also the numbers of deaths that could occur," she said
"The good thing is that the premier indicated any potential spread of the virus could be influenced by the levers that were discussed, and restrictions that may be applied and then removed."
Ms Shepherd said the ANMF would work closely with the government to discuss when those restrictions should be implemented or applied to support health care workers' concerns about potential burnout.
"There is a great deal of trepidation from a number of our members about having to face COVID-19 again in a state, and particularly in the North-West, and there is a concern that some of our members will burnout and are already dealing with burnout," she said.
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff assured Tasmanians that the health system had the capacity to manage COVID-19.
"COVID-19 will continue to present many challenges for Tasmanians and it would be very understandable and natural for Tasmanians to feel concerned, worried and uncertain about what living with COVID-19 in our community presents," Mr Rockliff said.
The Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Dr Helen McArdle said she had confidence in the government's plan.
"The borders will really only be open to double vaccinated people who've shown a negative taste in the 72 hours prior to arriving, so that gives a lot of confidence," she said.
"The other thing is that we've been able to use this time or not at the health department and the government to prepare the hospital side of things."
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