COVID at Home kits to be offered for less severe cases to ease pressure on Tasmanian health system

The COVID @ Home kits contain a temperature checker, pulse oximeter and a mobile device to communicate results with Public Health - all linked through Bluetooth - and to have telehealth meetings with a GP.

Once someone tests positive they will be assessed for eligibility to be sent the kits, with asymptomatic cases not necessarily requiring one.

The government has 2500 kits on standby, designed to prevent positive COVID cases from needing to leave their home, physically interact with others or require hospitalisation. Users can submit their own temperature, pulse and oxygen saturation levels for 24/7 remote monitoring.

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State health commander Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said the vast majority of cases would be able to remain at home for the duration of their treatment.

"The majority of COVID-19 positive cases in this highly vaccinated population will be able to recover and be cared for at home," she said.

"As a comparison, the same model of care is currently being delivered in other jurisdictions and they're finding that a relatively low number of cases are needing to be escalated to a hospital setting.

"To those patients who do need more support, there'll be clear, clinical pathways through to regional case management facilities or hospitals."

The kits will be available to both the vaccinated and unvaccinated.

They have been trialled on about 4000 seasonal workers who have arrived in Tasmania. Ms Morgan-Wicks said there were few issues, even in a cohort of people with generally lower technological literacy.

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Royal Hobart Hospital executive director of medical services Stephen Ayre said the system was designed to be as simple to use as possible.

"Minimal instructions, like a mobile phone," he said.

"Those parameters will be looked at on a daily basis, and maybe up to more frequently if somebody isn't well, so that we can actually continue to keep an eye on those measurements and then step in if need be and escalate the care for those patients.

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"There will also be the ability for them to ring us and to interact with the clinician if there is a change in their circumstances."

Tasmania will have three COVID "case management facilities" at the Coach House in Launceston and Fountainside in Hobart, with Wellers Inn in Burnie likely to be added before December 15.

These will be used mainly for COVID-positive cases who live rurally or remotely without access to support services, in order to keep them close to hospitals.

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