Daily blog, April 24: State records ninth death, restrictions to continue
Tasmania records two new coronavirus cases, students in the North-West will have their school holidays and the state recorded its ninth coronavirus death.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Homes light up to thank our ‘true heroes’
- Elective surgery restart a ‘top priority’
- Builders laid off as projects dry up
- Further protection for residential tenants
- $3M support package for visa holders
READ: Everything we know about all 205 cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania
8.30pm: TWO NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES
TASMANIA has confirmed two cases of coronavirus since 6pm on Thursday night.
Acting Director of Public Health Dr Scott McKeown said both cases were from the North-West and were close contacts of a previously confirmed case.
Both are men aged in their 20s.
The new cases bring the state’s total to 207.
“A concerted effort is being made to identify any further cases of coronavirus in the North-West” Dr McKeown said.
“Anyone in Tasmania who currently, or in the last few days, has had respiratory symptoms like a cough, sore throat, runny nose, or fever should arrange testing through the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or their GP.”
Health minister Sarah Courtney said coronavirus test results would be streamlined, with Tasmanians receiving news of negative COVID-19 test results by text message from the Tasmanian Health Service.
“As we expand testing, it is important that people are advised of their negative result as soon as possible, this will help lessen anxiety,” she said.
“This is important as we continue to expand testing criteria across Tasmania, and will allow us to deliver these results in a much more efficient manner.”
She reinforced that health care employees would be tested before returning to work at the North West Regional Hospital and the nearby North West Private Hospital.
The situation with coronavirus is changing frequently. People can stay up to date by visiting the Department of Health coronavirus website www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au or the Australian Government Department of Health website at www.health.gov.au.
5.45pm: UNI UNDER FIRE FROM INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
THE University of Tasmania is under fire for not helping to financially support its international students.
The creator of a change.org petition outlining the concerns says the coronavirus pandemic has left international students such as himself at a disadvantage.
Originally from Singapore, fourth year student James Gomez Jovian Messiah moved to Tasmania to study law at the university.
But he said he was disappointing by the lack of support he had received since the pandemic hit.
5pm: VIRUS DELAYS STUDENTS’ RETURN
STUDENTS in the state’s North-West will have a delayed start to their second term.
Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Thursday an extension to lock down measures in the region, meaning students at government and Catholic schools will not head back to their classrooms next week.
“Teachers will continue to undertake preparations for Term 2 from home and school sites will be closed,” he said.
10.30am: NORTH WEST LOCKDOWN END DATE REVEALED
TASMANIA’S Health Minister says teachers, police and other public-facing workers should be tested for coronavirus as strict measures to stamp out an outbreak in the North West appear to be making inroads.
The 5000 health care works, former patients and their families who have been in quarantine are due to be released on Sunday and Monday.
All North West Regional Hospital staff must return a negative test before they are allowed back on the facility’s decontaminated wards.
9.30am: COVID-19 CLAIMS ANOTHER LIFE, NW RESTRICTIONS CONTINUE
Premier Peter Gutwein has announced this morning that a ninth person has lost their life due to coronavirus in Tasmania.
The elderly woman died at the Launceston General Hospital.
Mr Gutwein used this announcement to springboard into the announcement that restrictions in the state’s North West will continue.
9.15am: WATCH THE PREMIER’S DAILY UPDATE LIVE
8am: TASWATER GIVES CUSTOMERS EXTRA TIME TO PAY
TASWATER has announced a raft of COVID-19 pandemic support measures, including residential payment extensions and deferred trade waste bills.
The new measures will kick off from Friday and are in addition to the freezing of price hikes over the coming 12 months and the 100 per cent rebate for eligible small business customers on their next bill after April 1.
6.30am: CHINA PUTS CITY OF 10M ON LOCKDOWN TO CURB NEW OUTBREAK
A NORTHERN Chinese city went into lockdown after local officials claim a New York University student brought the coronavirus when she returned home from the US, according to reports.
Harbin, which has a population of 10 million, restricted travel on Wednesday after the 22-year-old graduate student was accused of sparking a local outbreak that ultimately infected at least 70 people.
The student, who was only identified by her last name, Han, returned from New York to her hometown on March 19, according to the Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
6am: TOUGH NW RESTRICTIONS MAY BE IN PLACE LONGER
THE tough restrictions in place in Tasmania’s coronavirus epicentre might not be lifted on Sunday as first planned, Premier Peter Gutwein has warned.
The North-West is home to two thirds of the state’s 205 COVID-19 cases, with 117 directly linked to an outbreak at the North West Regional Hospital and the neighbouring private facility.
Up to 5000 people — health care workers, former patients and their families — were put in quarantine, and the largest tranche is due to come out of isolation on Sunday or Monday.
8pm, yesterday: TASMANIA RECORDS NO NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS
NO new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Tasmania since 6pm Wednesday.
It is the state’s first day with zero new cases since March 31, meaning Tasmania’s infection tally remains at 205.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch a concerted effort was being made to identify any further COVID-19 cases in the North-West breakout area.
He said anyone who lived in the region with respiratory symptoms like a cough, sore throat, runny nose or fever should arrange testing through the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or their GP.
The state government will hold a live update with the Premier at 9.30am on Friday, with the event live-streamed on the Mercury website.
7pm, yesterday: PARENTS NOT EXPECTED TO BE TEACHING ‘EXPERTS’
THE government is determined to ensure students receive the best education possible, despite disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff says.
Government schools reopen on Tuesday. Term two runs from April 28 to July 3, but for the vast majority of Tasmanian students that will mean classes at the kitchen table, their lessons being supervised by mum or dad.
Schools will be open, but parents are being encouraged to keep their children home if they can, to help with social distancing measures intended to contain COVID-19.
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