Changes to COVID-19 testing arrangements in Tasmania

Premier Gutwein has today announced that Tasmania will shortly be moving to rapid antigen testing as the primary diagnostic tool to detect cases of COVID-19 and full details will be provided tomorrow at a COVID press conference.

The Premier’s statement indicated that:

• Rapid antigen tests (RAT), if required to be used under Tasmanian rules because a person is symptomatic or a designated close contact, will be free to anyone within Tasmania.
• People who test positive on a rapid antigen test will be considered as a case of COVID-19 and be subject to the same requirements as cases confirmed by a PCR test.
• People who test positive on a RAT, must register their positive test result either through the Public Health Hotline or preferably online through the following link www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/covid-care which will be available from 7.00pm tonight.
• People who already have had a positive RAT result in recent days will be able to use this registration mechanism to identify themselves as a case and to access assistance from Public Health Services and the COVID@home team during their illness if required.
• Proof of registration of the test result will also be used for financial assistance requests and leave applications for employees. 
• Importantly, PCR testing will still remain available for people who cannot access a RAT, are unable to use a RAT, or are having trouble interpreting a RAT result as well as anyone clinically directed to have a PCR test.
• RATs will no longer be distributed at airports and seaports in Tasmania from midnight tonight but will continue to be available for free to anyone who develops symptoms or becomes a close contact of a positive case.

Click here to view the Premier’s full statement.

Click here to view the latest Testing, Quarantine and Isolation Plan 

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Covid-19 Vaccinations for 5-11 year olds 

Members should note that Tasmania is the only State that has not approved pharmacists through community pharmacies participating in vaccination of 5-11 year olds. 

We know that many pharmacies have excellent relationships with parents and have already started to field questions from parents as to the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for their children.

We continue to raise this anomaly in our regular discourse with State officials and believe that pharmacists should be involved with pharmacies choosing to participate based on resourcing and capacity. 

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COVID-19 Resources

The Guild website carries a wide range of resources for members to utilise in their pharmacies and through their social media channels. Click here to find out more.

The Guild website also includes all slides, links, recordings and other resources associated with the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out webinar series. Most are open-access resources available for everyone, and some are in the Members-only area of the website.