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DAILY BLOG, March 18: Three more coronavirus cases confirmed in Tasmania
The State Government has confirmed three more coronavirus cases in Tasmania. The three people - a woman and two men, all aged in their 40s - have recently travelled to the state from overseas.
KEY POINTS:
- Three more cases of coronavirus in Tasmania have been confirmed
- A public health emergency has been declared
- Incoming travellers will need to provide their details if they are returning from travel overseas.
- GPs call for immediate school closures to control the spread of the disease
- UTAS and schools taking preventive measures, consider closing
- A GP and Labor candidate says Tasmania’s schools and universities need to be closed now
- Elective surgery could stall in Tasmania as hospitals look to increase capacity and ways to best to isolate patients as the coronavirus crisis grows.
- The final round of the Sheffield Shield has been called off
7.35pm: STATE'S CORONAVIRUS TALLY JUMPS TO 10
The State Government has confirmed three more coronavirus cases in Tasmania.
The three people - a woman and two men, all aged in their 40s - have recently travelled to the state from overseas.
It brings the number of confirmed cases in Tasmania to 10.
The latest cases are all in southern Tasmania.
Public Health Services is investigating the three new cases and will be contacting their close contacts so they can be placed in quarantine.
6.35pm: CLAIM ARRIVALS ARE 'SLIPPING THE NET'
THE arrivals card being handed to people entering Tasmania after overseas travel isn’t going to protect the state from importing more cases of coronavirus, the opposition parties say.
Labor, the Greens and independent MP Madeleine Ogilvie want two-week self-isolation requirements extended to all people arriving in Tasmania — something the Government emphatically ruled out on Wednesday.
5.40pm: WORLD-CLASS MOUNTAIN BIKE EVENT CANCELLED
A WORLD-class mountain biking event that was expected to attract hundreds of international mountain bikers and media to St Helens this month has been canned.
Break O’Day mayor Michael Tucker has confirmed the inaugural Dragon Trail event scheduled for next week had been called off due to coronavirus.
More than 300 riders were set to tackle the three-day staged mountain bike race through the Tasmanian wilderness, including Derby and St Helens’ new Bay of Fires Epic Trail and St Helens Trails.
Only 17 per cent of the riders booked to attend were from Tasmania.
5.25pm: ABSENTEEISM SPIKES AS KIDS PULLED FROM SCHOOL
ABSENTEEISM in the state’s school system has doubled as parents keep pull their children from class over coronavirus fears.
Education Department figures seen by the Mercury show that the average number of students missing from Tasmanian schools has passed 20 per cent each day — up from less than 10 per cent a month ago.
But Premier Peter Gutwein said there was no reason for parents to keep students at home.
4.10pm: VIRUS TO CREATE MAJOR DELAYS IN JUDICIAL SYSTEM
THE Supreme Court of Tasmania has announced it will suspend jury trials for at least four months due to the coronavirus crisis.
Jurors who have been summonsed to court in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie have been advised they are no longer required, with trials now put off until at least July 21.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court announced trials would be delayed for one week until March 23, but have now changed their stance given “the level of public alarm about coronavirus”.
3.30pm: COUNCIL PLACES SALAMANCA MARKET ON HOLD
THE Hobart City Council has made a decision on the immediate future of the Salamanca Market amid coronavirus fears.
General manager Nick Heath announced on Wednesday afternoon the popular market would be temporarily suspended as of this week for two weeks.
The suspension comes as one long-time stallholder warned the council it may face legal action is the market was suspended or shut down.
11.39am: AGFEST LATEST IN LINE OF EVENTS TO CANCEL
The Rural Youth Organisation has cancelled Agfest 2020 – the first time in the even’ts 37-year history – in the best interests of the community’s health and safety.
After much careful deliberation weighing up the latest advice from health officials and the Tasmanian and Australian Government regarding containment measures for COVID-19 and the staging of public events, Rural Youth and the Agfest Committee have unanimously agreed that this year’s events will not proceed.
More to come...
10.35am: TARGA LATEST VICTIM OF CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
TASMANIA’S second major motorsport event has been cancelled for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Hours after the state’s round of the Supercars was postponed until later in the year, Targa Tasmania announced it would not be proceeding.
It is the first time in the event’s history – which began in 1992 – that Targa will not proceed.
Targa CEO Mark Perry will address media at midday.
More to come...
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9.34am: PREMIER NOT CONSIDERING BORDER CONTROL DESPITE PRESSURE
THE closing of Tasmania’s borders is not being considered amid the coronavirus outbreak, Premier Peter Gutwein says.
He addressed the media this morning alongside Health Minister Sarah Courtney and Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch.
“We will not be stopping trade, we will not be closing our borders,’’ Mr Gutwein said.
“The clothes we are wearing today, the food we ate this morning for breakfast, and in many cases the medical supplies ... these things come across our borders, and they must continue to cross our borders.”
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9.31am: SPIEGELTENT ANNOUNCES ‘SEASON WILL NO LONGER CONTINUE’
The Spiegeltent announced to ticketholders this morning via text that shows would no longer continue.
More to come...
6am: LABOR CALL TO ISOLATE INTERSTATE TRAVELLERS
LABOR wants the Government to impose immediate two-week isolation periods for all people returning to Tasmania from interstate to contain the threat of coronavirus.
The call has been backed by business and community leaders as well as doctors, who took out a full-page advertisement in today’s Mercury encouraging the Government to act.
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4.45pm, March 17:
CASH FOR ISOLATION: PREMIER UNVEILS $420M STIMULUS PACKAGE
Cash payments for people required to self-isolate and tax breaks for business headline the State Government’s $420 million coronavirus stimulus package.
Premier Peter Gutwein announced the details of the government’s response to the pandemic in state parliament today.
He announced one-off emergency relief payments of $250 for individuals and up to $1000 for families who are required to self-isolate by public health as a result of coronavirus.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
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