A third Ruby Princess cruise ship passenger has died in Tasmania from coronavirus

A third passenger from the Ruby Princess cruise ship has died in Tasmania from coronavirus.

TASMANIA has recorded its third death from coronavirus, with an elderly man falling victim to the disease on Tuesday.

The man in his 80s died at the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie.

He had been a passenger on the Ruby Princess cruise ship, which docked in Sydney last month.

All three Tasmanian deaths from coronavirus — who have all been aged in their 80s — were passengers on board that vessel.

“On behalf of the Tasmanian Health Service, the Department of Health, and all the dedicated staff at the North West Regional Hospital, I extend my condolences to the man’s family and loved ones,” the state’s chief medical officer Tony Lawler said.

“Out of respect, it is not appropriate to make further comment about this matter.”

The news came as health authorities continued to investigate an outbreak at the Burnie hospital where six health workers have become infected with the virus.

A patient who spent time there before being transferred to the Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe has also tested positive.

The North West Regional Hospital at Burnie.

Meanwhile, a resident at an aged care facility at Somerset, near Burnie, is in isolation due to COVID-19 fears.

Southern Cross Care chief executive Robyn Boyd said the female resident at the Yaraandoo aged care facility had been exposed to a health worker at the NWRH who has since tested positive to the virus.

“Immediately that we were made aware, we isolated the resident in a separate confined area of the facility, and she is being attended to by staff who will remain in isolation with her,” she said.

“The resident is not displaying any symptoms, but we are taking this seriously and following all guidelines and procedures.”

Mrs Boyd said as a result, Southern Cross Care decided to close the facility on Monday night to visitors and contractors, ahead of Premier Peter Gutwein’s announcement on Tuesday morning.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Tony Lawler. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Prof Lawler said an outbreak management team continued to identify and contact any person who has had close contact with hospital staff diagnosed with coronavirus.

He acknowledged the hard work of health workers amid the outbreak, which he said was creating concern for staff and the community.

“The fact that staff are also having to work with the knowledge that a number of their colleagues have tested positive for coronavirus, and that others are also unable to be at work due to the risk associated with coronavirus is exceptionally challenging,” he said.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney acknowledged the hard work of health care workers at the hospital and said authorities were doing everything possible to keep them safe.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said there was 89 confirmed cases — 41 in the South, 24 in the North and 21 in the North-West — with the three others from interstate but diagnosed in Tasmania.

As of Tuesday morning, more than 3100 tests had been conducted for coronavirus.