Health authorities concerned about North-West shopping crowds

Premier Peter Gutwein shook his head at pictures of shoppers lining up outside major North West retail stores after strict lockdown measures were eased.

PREMIER Peter Gutwein has expressed his disappointment at North West residents who went shopping en masse just 12 hours after the additional restrictions placed on the region to control an outbreak were relaxed.

The North-West went into a more strict COVID-19 lockdown than the rest of the state for three weeks as health authorities tried to stamp out the significant cluster of infections associated with its hospital system.

Staff, patients and their families from the North West Regional Hospital and nearby private hospital were sent into quarantine.

There was no shortage of customers at Bunnings Burnie after the lifting of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on the North-West. Picture: GRANT WELLS

The ADF and specialist AUSMAT teams were bought in to staff the emergency department at the NWRH and almost all shops were closed with travel restricted.

Those trading restrictions were lifted at 12am on Monday.

“I saw the footage of l ines outside shops in the region on Monday and was concerned,” Mr Gutwein said.

“For the life of me, I cannot understand why if people need something essential they don’t choose to come back later if they see it looks busy when they arrive.

“While essential shopping is allowed I encourage Tasmanians to limit their interactions with others.

“Until a vaccine is found we need to keep some social distancing measures in place.”

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch at the daily COVID-19 update. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said the more people mixed in big groups the more chances there were that any infections would spread.

Dr Veitch said it was also difficult to track infection in larger groups of people not known to each other.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said she had noticed increased movement of people around the state and stressed the coronavirus threat had calmed but not alleviated.

On a more positive note, birthing services have returned to the Burnie Private Hospital and other services such as ICU, radiation and medical records will soon be back online.

Paediatric and surgical wards are expected to reopen later in the week.