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ABC News
ABC News
Health
Guy Stayner

Snug Village in lockdown as eleven aged care facilities in Tasmania record COVID cases

Snug Village residential aged care has gone into lockdown after an employee tested positive last week. (ABC News: Loretta Lohberger)

Increasing numbers of Tasmanian aged care residents are being confined to their rooms as the state deals with a massive surge in coronavirus cases.

Eleven aged care facilities in Tasmania have already recorded COVID-19 infections in either staff or residents.

But there are fears the number of affected homes will grow, with daily case numbers expected to reach 2,000 per day.

The Snug Village facility south of Hobart has so far detected eight cases amongst staff and residents.

Pam Bartulovic lives at Snug Village and said residents had been isolating in their rooms since New Year's Eve.

"Everyone is very calm and there appears to be plenty of staff," she said.

Snug Village resident Pam Bartulovic says she feels safe. (Supplied: Pam Bartulovic)

Ms Bartulovic said the outbreak was inevitable, and Snug Village was well prepared for the border reopening.

"We've all been inoculated and all of our staff have been inoculated and with all the borders reopening it's been sad but I'm sure we will get through it," she said.

Government says it's prepared

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the majority of COVID-19 cases in aged care were in staff.

He said four Tasmanian aged care residents had tested positive.

Public Health deputy director Scott McKeown said health authorities were working with aged care facilities and no COVID-positive residents had had any severe outcomes so far.

"Public Health is working very closely with these facilities and with the Commonwealth to ensure that we follow national guidelines and protect residents, staff and communities around these facilities," Dr McKeown said.

Dr Scott McKeown says the situation is being monitored carefully. (ABC News)

Tasmania recorded 702 cases on Tuesday, taking the total number of active cases to 2,244.

Mr Rockliff has told Tasmanians to anticipate case numbers rising to 2,000 a day.

Mr Rockliff said there was only one person currently in hospital with COVID, and no-one in intensive care or on a ventilator.

"This highlights the fact that the Omicron variant is very mild," he said.

New website launched to track down rapid antigen tests
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