Tasmanians may soon no longer need to "check in" when visiting most common venues like shops and restaurants, the government has flagged.
Premier Peter Gutwein yesterday said the government was reviewing the Check in TAS app's usage.
While no decision has been made yet, he flagged changes could mean checking in would only be required at places considered high risk — such as at hospitals, aged care homes and festivals and other mass gatherings.
According to the latest figures, released by the Health Department on Friday, there are 19 COVID-positive people in Tasmanian hospitals. Nine of those are being treated specifically for COVID.
There is one person receiving intensive care.
There were 584 new cases recorded, down from 726 on Thursday.
The state now has 4,942 active COVID cases — the first time active cases have dropped below 5,000 since January 7.
Mr Gutwein said on Thursday that it was important that public health requirements were continually reviewed.
He said while Tasmanians were still required to check in everywhere they go — either by using the Check in TAS app, or by using a paper form — changes could be made in coming weeks.
"We'll have more to say in coming weeks."
Tasmanian Greens health spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said making such changes to check in requirements was "yet another lack of information that is available for Public Health to make decisions about risk to the Tasmanian community".
Check in TAS data used for Party in the Apocalypse and King Island outbreaks
A Health Department spokesman said data from the Check in TAS app was "still extremely useful, particularly where there may be a significant outbreak whereby Public Health would want to notify those people who attended".
"Check in TAS also allows people who test positive to have a record of their whereabouts which can assist them in notifying any potential close contacts," the spokesman said.
In Tasmania, everyone who tests positive to COVID-19 is asked to identify and notify their close contacts that they should quarantine and get tested.
"Public Health continues to work with priority settings and organisations to identify contacts and manage outbreaks, and, should a larger outbreak occur, for example at a large event or in a business setting, the Check in TAS app information would be utilised by Public Health to assist with contact tracing," the spokesman said.
He said Check in TAS data was analysed following the Party in the Apocalypse in Launceston, and the recent outbreak on King Island.
