Military sent to virus-hit Tas aged homes

Deputy Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said there were outbreaks at five facilities across the state.

A "small number" of defence personnel were being sent to provide assistance to three homes for up to a week, he said.

"They will be providing general support, not clinical. This is out of an abundance of caution," Mr Rockliff told reporters on Tuesday.

The federal government last week announced up to 1700 troops could be called on to assist homes and help with tasks like screening visitors and providing companionship to residents.

Mr Rockliff said defence personnel duties would be determined by the facilities based on individual need.

He said there were five cases among residents and five among workers across the five facilities with outbreaks.

According to federal government data, there have been 167 virus cases among Tasmanian aged care residents since the beginning of the pandemic and six deaths.

The island state recorded 513 new infections on Tuesday, an increase on the 408 recorded on Monday and 371 documented on Sunday, after 456 cases were recorded on Saturday.

Seven people are being treated in hospital for COVID-19, a drop from eight on Monday. One of the cases is in intensive care.

Three cases are in hospital for unrelated medical conditions, the state health department says.

There are 3033 active cases statewide, continuing a broad downward trend since a peak of 8764 on January 12.

Premier Peter Gutwein is expected to make an announcement this week on the future of the state's check-in application.

It is mandatory for Tasmanians to check in at venues but virus hotspots haven't been posted on the state's coronavirus website for the best part of two months.

Twenty-three people with the virus have died in Tasmania since the beginning of the pandemic, with 10 of those occurring since borders reopened on December 15.

Australian Associated Press