Almost 100 Tasmanians would lose their lives to COVID-19 if the state opened its borders to the country at an 80-per-cent vaccination rate.
This statistic is based on state-specific modelling, revealed on Wednesday, applied to the Doherty Institute report on border reopenings.
Premier Peter Gutwein said there would be 14,900 COVID cases in the state in the first six months should Tasmania open to states, including NSW and Victoria, at 80 per cent with baseline restrictions.
He said there would be 590 hospital admissions, 97 intensive care admissions, and almost 100 deaths.
"As we move to reopen our borders, the Delta [strain] will arrive," Mr Gutwein said.
"When Delta arrives, that will mean that some people will get sick, some people will get very sick, and unfortunately some people will die."
Health Department secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said the state was still on track to reach a 90-per-cent vaccination rate by December 1.
She said more than 331,000 Tasmanians had been administered their first dose of the COVID vaccine and more than 251,000 had been fully vaccinated.
Ms Morgan-Wicks said more than 25,000 people aged over 50 years old had not yet received a first dose of the vaccine.
She said those in the 12 to 15 year age group were lagging behind the vaccination rate of that cohort in other states.
Mr Gutwein said borders were planned to be reopened by Christmas, however, that depended on circumstances around COVID-19 in other jurisdictions.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
