Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
Health
Adam Langenberg

Long testing queues as Tasmania records three new COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 10

People wanting a test on Sunday in Launceston were faced with long car queues. (Supplied)

Tasmanians seeking a COVID-19 test are facing long queues as the state records three new cases and lists new exposure sites.

The state now has 10 active coronavirus cases since borders reopened to interstate hotspots.

All cases are either being managed at home or in a community case management facility, with no hospital admissions.

The three new cases are a man in his 20s who arrived from Sydney on Friday, an overseas traveller in his 40s who came via Melbourne on Friday and an interstate man in his 30s who came via Melbourne on the day the borders opened last Wednesday.

Contract tracing is underway and several new exposure sites have been listed in southern Tasmania.

People who visited Bellerive's Groundsman Espresso between 8:09am and 8:19am on Friday are deemed casual contacts and should get a test.

The Hobart City Mission op shop on Main Road in Moonah has also been listed as a casual exposure site for Friday, between 11am and 1pm.  

Five business premises in Sorell have also been listed as low risk on Friday and Saturday, with Public Health authorities urging those people to monitor for symptoms.

All of the sites listed in Sorell are deemed low risk. (ABC News: David Hudspeth)

Five-hour wait for test

A Launceston resident said she was "extremely frustrated" after waiting five hours beyond her appointment time for a COVID test on Sunday. 

The woman had been to Harris Scarfe during the exposure time period and had symptoms of COVID-19 so called the Public Health Hotline to book a test on Sunday morning. 

Case numbers in Tasmania have been rising each day since borders reopened on December 15. (ABC News: Mitchell Woolnough)

She said she waited on hold for an hour, before eventually booking a drive-in appointment at Launceston's Dowling Street clinic for 11:30am.

She encountered heavy traffic when she got to Henry Street, but did not realise it would take five hours of waiting until she received a test.

"Half the people in the line didn't have an appointment so they just sort of rocked up," she said.

"It was extremely frustrating. You shouldn't have to wait if you have an appointment.

Tasmania's Department of Health said that an incorrect text about a low-risk site sent on Sunday had caused confusion and authorities apologised to those who were inconvenienced while trying to get tested.

The incorrect message led to hundreds of vehicles lining up at COVID testing sites in Launceston.

The government is advertising for more specimen collectors for the Launceston drive-through clinic as testing ramps up.

An indoor mask mandate comes into effect in Tasmania from midnight tonight but the government recommends they be worn from now.

The mandate applies to all indoor settings except for homes.

Genomic sequencing has so far confirmed that at least three of the active cases are the Omicron variant.

What the experts know about the Omicron variant so far (Norman Swan)
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.