Daily blog, May 1: No new cases of coronavirus diagnosed

No new cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in Tasmania, with the state's infection tally remaining at 221.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• How the virus spread through the North-West
• Four-point plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions
• Independent review ordered into NW outbreak
• Relaxing restrictions could lead to secondary outbreaks
• Was there an illegal dinner party?
• Further protection for residential tenants

READ: Everything we know about the cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania

8.15pm: NO NEW CASES DIAGNOSED

TASMANIA has enjoyed another day with no new diagnosed infections of COVID-19.

Public health director Mark Veitch confirmed the news on Friday night, meaning the state’s total infection tally remained at 221.

He also said processing of tests would continue overnight.

Friday was the second time in two weeks that Tasmania has recorded days without fresh coronavirus cases.

Before April 23, the state had increased its tally each day since an infection-free day was recorded on March 31.

Extra efforts are being made to identify any further cases in the north-west outbreak area, with anyone in the region with respiratory symptoms asked to arrange testing through the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or their GP.

7pm: NEW VIRUS CLUSTER BEING MONITORED BY AUTHORITIES

A NEW cluster of coronavirus cases in Tasmania involves a “well-defined” circle of people.

The Circular Head community is reacting to news it is now home to seven positive coronavirus cases by rushing to get tested.

Of the 888 tests carried out across Tasmania on Thursday 562 were given to residents in the North West and 77 in Smithton.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

5pm: NOT THE PUBLICITY BURNIE WAS AFTER

THEY say any publicity is good publicity but the North West’s claim to fame as one of Australia’s coronavirus epicentres is not the kind of advertising campaign the region had expected or wanted.

The North West, with its main urban centres of Devonport and Burnie, is a relatively isolated part of Australia’s island state and when the coronavirus emergency broke out, residents felt they would be almost immune.

That, perhaps naive, mindset changed in late March when the first cases and deaths, associated with the virus happened at public hospitals in the North West.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

3pm: AUSSIES MAY GET EARLY MARK, SAYS PM

AUSTRALIANS have been so successful flattening the coronavirus curve they have earned an “early mark” with restrictions to start being eased in just one week, Scott Morrison has revealed.

The Prime Minister said the National Cabinet of state and territory leaders had agreed to consider easing strict shut down measures from May 8 - a week earlier than was originally planned when the committee agreed to wait a month before moving any reactions.

Mr Morrison said one “critical” element in deciding how far restrictions are rolled back included how many people downloaded the federal government’s COVIDSafe app.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

11.30am: MERSEY HOSPITAL PATIENT INFECTED

ONE OF Tasmania’s most recent cases of coronavirus is a patient at the Mersey Community Hospital.

The woman in her 70s was diagnosed yesterday.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said a Tasmanian Health Service team, in collaboration with Public Health, have identified a number of staff contacts of the woman, and they have been furloughed from work.

Dr Veitch said the contact tracing process would continue in coming days.

“This is a process of identifying cases quickly and taking actions to prevent further spread,’’ he said.

“They are also investigating the possible source of that case and that will probably arise from further work that they do over the coming days.”

Meanwhile, a cluster of cases in Smithton has now reached seven, with further cases anticipated in coming days as testing continues in the town.

9.55am: ADDITIONAL NORTH-WEST COVID-19 MEASURES TO BE LIFTED

BIG-BOX retailers and schools will reopen in Tasmania’s coronavirus epicentre on Monday as extra restrictions placed on the region are lifted.

Premier Peter Gutwein announced this morning that the outbreak, which has claimed 12 lives in the North-West, was now “largely under control”, so the extra restrictions imposed on April 12 could now be removed.

“On Monday, businesses and services can reopen and staff can return to work,” Mr Gutwein said.

“We are only lifting the additional restrictions placed on the North-West.

“It’s important to note, these changes will bring the North-West in line with the rest of Tasmanian restrictions, which means restrictions on personal movement and the operation of certain businesses will still apply.”

However, retail businesses that were required to close when the additional North-West restrictions came into force three weeks ago, but were previously operating under the previous statewide restrictions will now be allowed to reopen.

This includes non-essential retail such as big-box retailers, clothing and whitegood stores, hairdressers, bookstores, tobacconists and the like.

“I would like to thank all those retailers and their employees who have been forced to close for the past three weeks for their understanding and sacrifice, Mr Gutwein said.

He warned if there was another spike in infection numbers in the North-West, the extra restrictions could be reactivated.

“That is a lever available to us if the health and safety of Tasmanias is put at risk,” Mr Gutwein said.

The Government will make decisions about statewide restrictions in the lead up to May 15.

A full list of statewide restrictions on public gatherings and business can be found at: www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au

9.30am: THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S DAILY CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

6.30am: HOW THE VIRUS SPREAD THROUGH THE NORTH-WEST

SOME staff at the North West Regional Hospital continued to work while showing symptoms of coronavirus, a report by health officials into the deadly outbreak of the virus at the facility has revealed.

The interim report into what caused the cluster, released on Thursday morning, also revealed the Ruby Princess cruise ship was likely “ground zero” for the outbreak.

But people should not use the findings to apportion blame for the outbreak, Premier Peter Gutwein and health officials said.

A further probe into the outbreak — in a region which has seen 12 of the 13 Tasmanian deaths from coronavirus — will be done by independent experts in coming months.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE 

17 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NORTH WEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL

6AM: PARLIAMENT TO SIT AGAIN TODAY 

AN unscheduled sitting of state parliament will this morning consider urgent government legislation to deal with the coronavirus crisis.

The House of Assembly will resume at 8am to examine the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which the government had hoped would pass both houses of parliament on Thursday.

The Legislative Council sat late into the night considering the legislation, which amends eight existing acts of Parliament.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

8pm, Thursday: TWO NEW CASES DIAGNOSED

Two new cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in the 24 hours to 6pm Wednesday.

The two cases are in the state’s North and North-West, bringing the state’s total to 221. Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said one case was a man and one case was a woman.

“One case is aged in their 50s, the other is in their 70s,” he said.

“A concerted effort is being made to identify any further cases of coronavirus in the North West.

“Anyone who lives in the North-West 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.”

7pm, Thursday: THIRTEEN CORONAVIRUS DEATH CONFIRMED

TASMANIA has recorded its thirteenth coronavirus death – an 86-year-old woman who died Thursday morning at the Mersey Community Hospital.

The tragic news came the same day as another death was confirmed in the state’s North-West, also an 86-year-old woman, who passed away on Wednesday night.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the state’s North-West had now suffered 12 losses to the virus.

“It is a stark reminder of the serious nature of this virus and our need to maintain strong measures to mitigate its spread,” he said.

5pm, Thursday: FOUR-POINT PLAN TO EASE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

THERE are several conditions to easing back coronavirus restrictions in Tasmania.

The state’s borders will remain closed for “some time”, but the government has outlined the steps it will take before restrictions are eased.

In state parliament on Thursday, Premier Peter Gutwein said the government was taking an approach involving “four safeguards” before winding back the current rules.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

4.30pm, Thursday: MEET GUTWEIN’S ‘HIGH-POWERED’ RECOVERY TEAM

A HIGH-POWERED recovery committee of business and community leaders will devise a plan to restart the Tasmanian economy as it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

Premier Peter Gutwein announced the Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council in parliament on Thursday.

It will be headed by former Treasury chief Don Challen and will provide its first advice to the government by July.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE