DAILY BLOG MARCH 13: Supercars in doubt with fourth coronavirus case announcement
Health authorities say shutting Tasmania’s borders is unnecessary, describing it as “socially disruptive”.
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KEY POINTS:
- The state’s fifth case of coronavirus was confirmed on late Friday night.
- Health authorities say shutting Tasmania’s borders is unnecessary, describing it as “socially disruptive”
- School closures are not currently being recommended
- Tasmanians are at “low risk” of catching the virus and no person-to-person transmission has been recorded
- Tasmanians should not be discouraged from travelling freely around the country
- A public health hotline to manage coronavirus has seen a surge in demand, with 1000 calls recorded in one day alone this week
- State Government expected to say more about upcoming large events in coming days after national advice about mass gatherings
MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS:
- DUTTON POSITIVE TO COVID-19 AFTER IVANKA TRUMP MEETING
- CAUTION ON CALL TO CLOSE BORDERS
- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
- CORONAVIRUS CLINICS SET UP IN THE NORTH-WEST
- HOBART STUDENTS ON FLIGHT WITH CORONAVIRUS CASE
SEVERAL MORE EVENTS CANCELLED IN WAKE OF CORONAVIRUS FEARS
Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation has cancelled the 2020 Put Your Foot Down walk, due to be held in Hobart this Sunday 15 March.
The annual 4km family friendly walk is an opportunity for the local community to unite and raise critical awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer.
“We understand the positive impact the walks have on those who attend, however protecting the health of our supporters and their families, many of whom are cancer patients or carers, is of paramount importance,” said Michelle Stewart, Avner Foundation CEO.
“We sincerely apologise to everyone and thank, in particular, our local volunteers who work hard to create this wonderful event each year.”
Cancer Council Tasmania has also announced that the Circular Head and Launceston Relay For Life events to be held this weekend have been cancelled.
“On advice of the Chief Medical Officer, we have made the decision to cancel all Relay For Life events in Tasmania in 2020,” Cancer Council Tasmania CEO Penny Egan said.
“This will begin with the Circular Head and Launceston events which were to be held this weekend.
“Given the high risk to public health currently posed by COVID-19, and keeping in mind that many who attend our events are in a higher risk group, we know the decision to cancel Relay For Life events is in the best interests of our community.
“Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our volunteers, staff and supporters. You are our most precious asset and we want to look after you.
“We thank you so much for your fundraising and planning efforts for these events so far, we are extremely grateful to you.”
The Relay For Life events to be cancelled are:
· Circular Head (Smithton) – March 14
· Launceston – March 14-15
· Hobart – March 21-22
· North-West (Penguin) – March 28-29
· Dorset (Scottsdale) – Match 28-29
Sweet Adelines Australia has also cancelled its May 2020 convention in Hobart.
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT OTHER EVENTS ARE CANCELLED
LABOR CALLS FOR PUBLIC VIRUS CAMPAIGN
LABOR says the State Government needs to launch a mass-marketed public awareness campaign to give event organisers direction and stem panic.
Leader Rebecca White said a lack of clear direction was causing confusion and panic among organisers of big public events.
FIFTH CASE OF CORONAVIRUS CONFIRMED IN TASMANIA
A fifth case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Tasmania.
Director of Public Heath Dr Mark Veitch revealed the diagnosis just before 11pm on Friday.
He said the patient had been admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital.
“Further information will be provided once public health officials have been able to complete the necessary investigations and assessments in order to inform the public accurately,” Dr Veitch said.
CLOSING SCHOOLS AND BORDERS NOT NECESSARY
POSSIBLE measures to contain the spread of coronavirus like shutting off Tasmania’s borders and closing schools are not necessary at this stage, health authorities say.
Health Minister Sarah Courtney and Director of Public Health Mark Veitch addressed the media on Friday afternoon and said the state was well prepared to deal with the coronavirus threat.
Dr Veitch said closing Tasmania’s borders was not needed and said it would be “socially disruptive”.
“It’s very unlikely that closing the Tasmanian border or closing the highway between Albury and Wodonga would actually make a great deal of difference to spread,’’ he said.
“It’s unlikely that closing the borders would be a commensurate measure. It would be a very socially disruptive measure for Tasmania or any Australian border that was shut.”
Ms Courtney agreed.
“I’ll always rely on the expert advice and Dr Veitch has outlined that is not necessary at this moment,’’ she said.
“It’s not something I’m contemplating however we’ll always take steps that are in the best interests of Tasmanians and that is my highest priority.”
Dr Veitch said school closures were not currently being recommended, but he said measures would be taken if a case was confirmed within a school.
“The merits of closing schools has been considered, but it’s certainly a fairly substantial measure that would interrupt education and would have effects on parents and families of the schoolchildren that couldn’t go to school,’’ he said.
“If there was a case in a school, we would discuss whether there’s any need for quarantine for the students or classes.”
Ms Courtney said Tasmanians were at “low risk” and that no person-to-person transmission has occurred in the state.
Dr Veitch said a dedicated hotline set up to manage coronavirus in Tasmania had seen a surge in use, with more than 1000 calls recorded on one day alone this week.
But Ms Courtney said the health system was adequately prepared for the risk.
“We’ve got a range of scenarios that we plan for within the health system. There’s been a substantial amount of planning work that has been done, not just across the public system but also across our private system as well,’’ she said.
“We want to make sure we hope for the best but plan for the worst and so as a state we’ve got a range of scenarios that we can look to.”
Dr Veitch said there was no evidence of community transmission of coronavirus in Tasmania and said there was no need for employees to work from home.
But he said as the situation evolved, it was sensible for organisations to consider potential responses like alternative work arrangements in the coming months.
Dr Veitch said there was “no strong reason” for Tasmanians to avoid travelling interstate.
Ms Courtney said discussions would take place in coming days about responses to upcoming large Tasmanian events, following national advice on mass gatherings.
— Cameron Whiteley
TASSIE EVENTS: POSTPONED, CANCELLED OR BUSINESS AS USUAL?
The Salamanca Market will go ahead, but a host of other events and sports matches have been cancelled to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath said the council was in communication with the state’s health department to determine the short-term future of market operations.
CORONAVIRUS CASTS DOUBT OVER TASSIE SUPERCARS ROUND
Tasmania’s round of the Supercars championship is in serious doubt after round two in Melbourne was cancelled setting up a potential $10 million blow to the state’s economy.
Tickets to Tasmania’s biggest sporting event were selling like hot cakes in anticipation of the last time fans would see Holden supercars doing battle at Symmons Plains Raceway on April 3-5.
AGFEST WILL GO AHEAD AT THIS STAGE
Organisers of Tasmania’s biggest agricultural event are pushing ahead with plans but a Royal Commission committee has decided to put its visit to the State’s north on ice.
The Agfest Organising Committee says it is watching the situation closely and has contingencies in place in case they need to cancel.
UTAS WILL NOT YET CLOSE ITS DOORS AMID CORONAVIRUS FEARS
The University of Tasmania is prepared to shut down if need be, vice-chancellor Rufus Black said.
Speaking this morning, Professor Black said they had been anticipating a potential since about January.
“We’re busy being able to prepare to do as many of our courses as we can online. At the moment there are all but about 112 units, so particular subjects, that we would be able to deliver up online. It’s obviously been quite a bit of work to achieve that,” he said.
WOMAN IN LAUNCESTON FOURTH CASE OF CORONAVIRUS
A woman in her 40s is in isolation in University of Tasmania student accommodation in Launceston after being diagnosed with Tasmania’s fourth case of coronavirus.
The Public Health Office has announced it is managing the situation and advised that the student is in isolation, well supported and that there is no risk to others on campus.
“Normal campus operations can continue,” a spokesman said.
“Public Health are managing this carefully to ensure public safety.
“Further information will be provided later today, once Public Health officials have been able to complete the necessary investigations and assessments in order to inform the public accurately.”
UTAS director of safety and wellbeing Chris Arnold has written to all staff and students informing them that Newnham campus resident has been diagnosed.
Mr Arnold said that when there was a local transmission in Tasmania. the University would move to online delivery of teaching “to the greatest extent possible”, a model to rotate people to work from home where possible and careful management of those circumstances where people need to work on campus.
This current case is not a case of local transmission.
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