The State government must expand testing for COVID-19 so Tasmania can protect the community and limit the spread of the virus.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said developments over the past few days emphasise the urgent need for increased testing in the state.
"News that two people from interstate travelled extensively throughout Tasmania before being diagnosed with coronavirus, is of great concern," Ms White said.
"These travellers could have been in contact with so many people throughout the state and we need to respond urgently to track down as many people as possible who may have been infected.
"The guidelines for testing to date have been very narrow, which has precluded some people from accessing testing, even if they have symptoms that might indicate COVID-19.
"It's clear that these guidelines need to be broadened as a matter of urgency so we can take advantage of the window we have to get on top of COVID-19.
"The failure to identify the source of two cases in Tasmania's north-west only increases the urgency.
"While these cases are still under investigation, the Director of Public Health said today that community transmission is inevitable in the medium to longer term.
"Without testing more widely, we simply can't know the extent of community transmission, particularly in light of the knowledge that people can be carriers without feeling unwell and the virus has an incubation period of up to 14 days.
"We are hearing from both health professionals and community members who are frustrated that testing is not available to those who are unwell because they don't fit the narrow criteria.
"That's why it is so important for people to stay home - because they may have COVID-19 without knowing it. We need to expand testing now so we can identify who has it as early as possible, not only to protect them, but also the wider community."
Rebecca White
Labor Leader
