A community disability organisation says the removal of the mandatory isolation requirement for COVID-positive cases puts the disability community at risk of long-term and potentially fatal health consequences.
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Disability Voices Tasmania executive officer Vaughn Bennison said the decision to remove the requirement on October 14 was premature and potentially dangerous.
"Many Tasmanians with disability have compromised immune systems and have, throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, been forced to remain at home," he said.
"This has led to feelings of exclusion, feelings of isolation and alienation within our local community."
Mr Bennison said many had been forced to withdraw from or postpone educational opportunities, due to face-to-face contact and group discussions.
"Many have had to delay university and other higher education courses, which has a significant impact on the potential for gaining meaningful work in the future," he said.
"Removal of the requirement for isolation will lead to further postponement and may cause a noticeable decline in the number of people with disability in higher education as well as primary and secondary educational institutions."
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Mr Bennison said the employment rate for people with disability in Tasmania was much lower than the general population and it was likely the removal of the isolation requirement would further compromise employment.
He said there were many people with disability who lived in group housing situations where the risk of COVID-19 infection was higher.
Mr Bennison said mandatory isolation should remain in place until the risk to people with disability and immunocompromised people was fully understood.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Sunday said the government encouraged vulnerable people, people in vulnerable settings and people who worked in the disability sector to be mindful of COVID-safe behaviours.
