NSW has done it, Victoria has done it, now it's Tassie's turn to scrap requirements for close COVD-19 contacts, says the state's peak business groups.
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The Tasmanian Small Business Council and the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have today called on the state government to ditch the requirement close contacts positive COVID-19 cases to isolate for seven day, which they claim has left people "needlessly" stuck at home.
TSBC chief executive officer Robert Mallett said his organisation was keen to see the rules thrown out.
"It is clear that with the bulk of the community vaccinated, falling rates of hospitalisation and the plateauing of COVID cases, that the close contact rules should be scrapped," he said.
"Put simply, if people think they have COVID or are showing symptoms, they should take a Rapid Antigen Test and if it is positive stay at home.
"If people are testing themselves solely because a contact has COVID and they return a negative test, they should return to work."
READ MORE: ACT to follow NSW, Vic isolation changes
TCCI head Michael Bailey said too many businesses were being forced to close due to the close contact rules.
"It is time to get the state of Tasmania working again," he said.
"Now is the time for people to return to the workplace, not sit at home perfectly well because a loved one has COVID."
The state government has been contacted for comment.
In the meantime Tasmania has recorded 1468 new cases overnight for the last 24 hours and the death of a man in his 60s, Premier Jeremy Rockliff has announced.
"I extend my sincere condolences to the man's family, friends, and loved ones in this extremely difficult and sad time," Mr Rockliff said, noting that the man had died at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
He added that a total of 1555 people recovered and were released from isolation in that same period.
There are currently 58 people in hospital with COVID, 20 of these are being treated specifically for COVID, and one is in the intensive care unit, according to the Health Department.
"We are continuing to see day to day fluctuations in case numbers, but overall, cases are trending downwards across the last seven days compared to the peak seen earlier this month," Mr Rockliff said.
"Our hospitalisations remain among the lowest in the nation, and we expect to see the number of people in hospital for COVID decline over the next few weeks.
"However, the most important thing Tasmanians can do is to continue to roll up their sleeves and get your vaccination or your booster if it's due, to keep yourself and the community safe and continue to practice COVID safe behaviours."