Legislative Council, Tuesday 22 November 2022

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

We know there has been a large increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and related hospitalisations in Tasmania and throughout Australia.

In light of the ongoing risk of serious illness from COVID-19 for some people, the increasing risk of Long COVID for those re-infected with COVID-19 and the arrival of cruise ships into Burnie with many positive cases on board, which is expected to continue in coming months:

1. Are the new variants that are likely to be causing many of the latest infections detected as readily as previous variants with a RAT test; and
a. If not, will greater access to diagnostic PCR tests be promoted?

2. Will PCR testing centres be re-opened in Burnie, as this is the town the cruise ships dock on the North West, to facilitate timely and more ready access to PCR testing:
a. If so, where and when will they be opened; and
b. If not, why not?

Answers:

1) The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is currently reviewing all COVID-19-specific laboratory antigen tests and rapid antigen tests (RATs), including point-of-care and self-tests, included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The purpose of the review is to determine if tests have been impacted by the current known variants of SARS-CoV-2, with ongoing activity to assess their ability to detect emerging variants.

The post-market review includes testing of all point of care test (PoCT) and self-test RATs included in the ARTG to validate their performance in detecting emerging variants of concern.

As each Variant of Concern (VoC) emerges, the manufacturer is expected to undertake an analysis, in line with their risk management plans, to verify that their tests continue to perform as intended, and that any adverse impacts are identified and communicated to users and regulatory authorities.

As an additional measure, the TGA has commissioned the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (the Doherty Institute), in collaboration with the National (Serology) Reference Laboratory (NRL) to undertake laboratory testing to verify manufacturer's claims.

The TGA, with the Doherty Institute and the NRL, are undertaking the testing to ensure the TGA can provide the most up to date information about test performance.

The Tasmanian Government will adapt Tasmania’s Testing Strategy as appropriate in line with TGA recommendations.

2) There are no plans to re-open the State-run PCR testing clinic in Burnie at this time.

b. Since borders opened on 15 December 2022, COVID-19 transmission has been established in the Tasmanian community, in all regions of the State. We can expect to see continuing waves of COVID-19 in the community over the coming months and years. Currently in Tasmania we have a few hundred new cases daily, many who will spend some time infectious in the community.

The overall public health risk from day visitors from cruise ships is minimal compared to the risk of infection that is circulating in the community.

When there is significant transmission identified on cruise vessels, passengers undertaking day tours are required to test negative before disembarking and asked to wear masks indoors. Cases on cruise vessels are managed in their cabins until recovered.

As part of the move towards living with COVID and managing COVID-19 as a sustainable model, the State-run testing clinics are being gradually stood down.

The Department of Health is consulting with the primary care sector, aged care sector and private pathology providers to ensure there is sufficient capacity to manage COVID-19 testing requirements on an ongoing basis.

The Department of Health will maintain capacity to deploy mobile testing units to targeted areas across Tasmania if required in the future.