With Tasmania open to vaccinated travellers from interstate, some residents are concerned about the increased demand on the state's testing system and what impact that will have on the health system more broadly.
When exposure sites in Launceston were listed on Sunday after being visited by a COVID-positive case, close to 700 people called the public health hotline to book a test., with Tasmania Police urging motorists to avoid the Henry Street testing site to prevent further congestion of nearby roads.
Tasmanian Health Department secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks says the department has started recruiting extra staff to manage an ongoing demand for testing. Ms Morgan-Wicks said testing clinics across the state had extended their hours in response to an increase in demand. Ms Morgan-Wicks said there was capacity for those living outside of the major COVID testing centres to be swabbed closer to home.
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