Four health workers and one patient from NWRH infected

Tasmanians have been warned to expect more coronavirus outbreaks in the state’s health facilities.

AN outbreak of coronavirus in a hospital in the state’s North-West will not be the last experienced in state health facilities during the pandemic, Premier Peter Gutwein has warned.

Four health workers at North West Regional Hospital in Burnie and one patient who spent time there have now been diagnosed with the virus.

A further six staff from the hospital are in quarantine as an investigation continues to determine close contacts of those infected.

FIVE INFECTIONS LINKED TO BURNIE HOSPITAL

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The patient, an adult man, was transferred from the Burnie facility to the Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe on April 2.

More than 20 staff from the Mersey have been put on leave as the investigation continues.

It’s a wake-up call. This is serious. This is deadly. It has already taken lives and ... unfortunately it will take more

Mr Gutwein said the state would likely experience further outbreaks of coronavirus within hospitals.

“Whilst it is concerning, this will not be the last time we will see this type of outbreak at a hospital in Tasmania,” he said.

“I want to be clear about that. I don’t want to normalise it, because it is something we have to deal with and treat as very serious.

“It’s a wake-up call. This is serious. This is deadly. It has already taken lives and as I have said before, unfortunately it will take more.”

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Two Tasmanians aged in their 80s have died from coronavirus — both had travelled on the Ruby Princess cruise ship.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said the outbreak highlighted the health system’s need for more workers and more personal protective equipment.

“People working in the healthcare system are at increased risk of contracting the virus, but we are still hearing concerning reports that people are not able to access the PPE they need,” she said.

“Health workers are worried for their own safety and that of others. We must support them to remain safe in the workplace so they can continue to deliver health care to the community.”

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian secretary Emily Shepherd. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Nurses at the Burnie hospital are anxious as they take part in an investigation into why their workplace is the scene of five coronavirus infections.

“The cluster is a considerable cause of anxiety and concern. Our members want to make sure they, their patients and their colleagues are safe,” Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian secretary Emily Shepherd said.

“There are also many workers in quarantine and that puts pressure on those left who are also helping with the outbreak investigation trying to pinpoint what is happening.”

Mr Gutwein said nurses who wanted to self-isolate away from their families would be helped to do so.

The Premier reiterated the North-West region could be locked down if the situation escalated.

“It is my expectation that people in the North-West will restrict their travel along with other Tasmanians. We are not at the stage to lock down a region or a city but if we get to that point, we will do it,” Mr Gutwein said.

Greens health spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said the Government needed to reassure North-West residents they would not have to leave the region to access health services.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said as of Monday morning there were 86 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Tasmania — 40 in the South, 24 in the North and 19 in the North-West.

Three others have been people from interstate who were diagnosed in Tasmania.

Three people were being treated in hospital, more than 50 were being managed in home settings, 29 had recovered and two people had died.