Coronavirus infection of healthcare worker at Mersey Community Hospital a ‘wake-up call’

UPDATED: A healthcare worker employed at a hospital in Tasmania’s North-West who later tested positive for coronavirus spent no more than 30 minutes at work while infectious, authorities say.

A HEALTHCARE worker employed at a hospital in Tasmania’s North-West who later tested positive for coronavirus spent no more than 30 minutes at work while infectious, authorities say.

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Acting Director of Public Health Scott McKeown said initial investigations into the case showed the worker was only at the Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe, near Devonport, for a short time before going home due to feeling unwell.

Mersey Community Hospital in 2011.

They were tested on Thursday for coronavirus and a positive result was returned on Friday.

The investigation into how the person contracted the infection is ongoing.

A small number of people on the same shift have been identified as close contacts and are in quarantine being monitored by Public Health Services, Dr McKeown said.

The person did not have close contact with any patients while they were infectious.

Health officials would not confirm if the infection was being treated as a community transmission, but said all previous Tasmanian cases had direct links to overseas travel or cruise ships.

The hospital worker was one of 12 people diagnosed in Tasmania in the space of 24 hours, with another three cases confirmed on Saturday night which brought the state’s tally of confirmed cases to 62.

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Two of the three most recent cases are related to recent overseas travel while the other is linked to the Voyager of the Seas cruise ship.

Premier Peter Gutwein and Health Minister Sarah Courtney both described the hospital case as a “wake-up call” and a reminder for all Tasmanians to follow important public health advice.

“That’s why we’re taking it so seriously. That’s why all Tasmanians need to take this seriously. The message is: stay home, save lives,’’ Mr Gutwein said.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said the case furthered the argument for broader testing guidelines.

“The fact that a health worker has now been diagnosed with this virus stands as a clear warning to people that this disease targets anybody, any age, it doesn’t discriminate and we all have to be very vigilant,’’ she said.