Tasmania's COVID-19 hospitalisation rate has reached its highest level since the pandemic began, with experts saying that is due to increasing numbers of older Tasmanians becoming infected.
Monday's figures show that 56 COVID-positive patients are in hospital, with 27 being treated specifically for symptoms of the virus.
It's the highest number of COVID-related hospital admissions in the state since the pandemic began, eclipsing the previous high of 44 recorded last Tuesday.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners chairman Tim Jackson said younger adults had predominantly caught the virus soon after the December 15 border reopening, but that it had spread to older Tasmanians since the school year began.
"Now we're seeing, with school going back, an increase in school-aged children and they're passing it on to their parents and teachers, unfortunately, and then some of that is now leaching into the older age groups," Dr Jackson said.
Tasmania's latest weekly COVID-19 surveillance report showed that 120 Tasmanians aged 70 years and older contracted the virus in the week ending March 12.
Three weeks later, that number had more than quadrupled, shooting up more than 400 per cent, to 530 infections in that age group.
Rates for younger age groups in the same time frame did not rise as rapidly, with a 270 per cent rise in infections in 20 to 29-year-olds, and a 206 per cent increase in people aged 30-39 years.
Australian Medical Association state president Helen McArdle said it was encouraging that the vast majority of older Tasmanians were vaccinated against COVID-19.
"Most of the over-50s, I think it's 80-something per cent have had their boosters … so that will give a significant amount of protection," she said.
"Some of those will now be qualifying for their fourth dose and we what we would encourage everyone who qualifies is to go out and get that fourth dose as soon as they're eligible."
Dr McArdle said it was positive that the number of people being treated specifically for COVID-19 symptoms was only rising slightly, while there was only one patient receiving treatment in an intensive care unit.
Hospital system 'managing'
Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said a number of factors could be causing the spike in hospitalisations, including the more-virulent Omicron BA.2 variant.
However, he said, the health system was well-prepared for increased hospital admissions, and new public health measures — such as mandatory mask wearing — had not been recommended.
"We'll always take the best public health advice when it comes to restrictions and other measures, and there's been no advice put to me, as yet, that we need to increase restrictions," he said.
"I believe our hospital system is managing well, albeit under difficult circumstances, and all our health staff have [been], and are, responding to the very real challenges in our health system as well as [to] COVID."
Dr Jackson said he was confident the state's hospitals could cope with the rise in hospital admissions but was worried about staffing levels.
"The staff either have got COVID and are at home or [they are] isolating because their children or whoever have got COVID, so that's more of the problem than not enough beds," he said.
More information on the current state of restrictions can be found on the Tasmanian government's coronavirus website.
Tasmanians can book a vaccination on the coronavirus.tas.gov.au website.
Here are some of the latest Tasmanian COVID-19 stories:
- Tasmania 'one of the highest per-capita states' with COVID-19, but deaths staying low
- Tasmania's child vaccination rate has hit a wall and authorities are desperate to find out why
- Tasmania's mask rules change again — here's where you're allowed to take it off
- Anne has been a relief teacher for years but this time she is staying away from the classroom
