Daily Blog, March 28: Launceston racegoers fever-tested at entrance as part of new mandatory procedures

DAILY BLOG: Three new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Tasmania on Saturday evening, as more details emerge from the investigation into the case of an emergency department hospital worker.

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10pm: HUNT ON FOR ANOTHER CRUISE SHIP’S LINK TO STATE

YET another cruise ship where passengers disembarked in Sydney has recorded a case of coronavirus, as officials work to determine if there were any Tasmanians on board.

Tasmanian health authorities were told on Friday night of a confirmed case of COVID-19 from a passenger on board the Sun Princess that docked in Sydney on March 19.

Acting Director of Public Health Scott McKeown said the case had been diagnosed interstate.

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8.30pm: THREE NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES CONFIRMED

THREE new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Tasmania on Saturday evening, bringing the total number of cases in the State to 62.

One of the new cases is from the North-West, one from the north and one from Southern Tasmania.

Two of the cases are related to recent overseas travel and one is linked to the Voyager of the Seas cruise ship.

The investigation into the coronavirus case of an emergency department worker at the Mersey Community Hospital in Latrobe has determined that the person in question spent no more than 30 minutes at work while they were infectious before they went home due to feeling unwell.

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8pm: CODE RED FOR RETIRED DOCTORS AND NURSES

CALLING all suitably qualified retired health professionals, the state needs you.

The call to action from authorities for reinforcements comes as the health system braces for heavy demand in coming months amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday, the state’s health department advertised for expressions of interest from qualified doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to assist in the response to COVID-19.

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7pm: HEALTHCARE WORKER INFECTION A ‘WAKE-UP CALL’

THE infection of a healthcare worker in the state’s North-West with coronavirus should serve as a wake-up call to Tasmanians about the seriousness of the disease, authorities say.

It was revealed on Saturday that the person had been working in the emergency department at the Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe, near Devonport.

They were tested on Thursday for coronavirus and were in isolation until results came back on Friday, with a full investigation launched to determine close contacts of the worker.

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4pm: PREMIER PROMISES ‘FORTRESS TASMANIA’

PREMIER Peter Gutwein has promised to turn the state into “Fortress Tasmania”, announcing arrivals will be escorted to hotels and locked down for 14 days under strict new measures to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

From midnight on Sunday, all non-essential travellers entering the state, including Tasmanians returning home, will be forced into quarantine at State Government-run isolation centres overseen by police and Australian Defence Force personnel.

The toughest border measures in the country are over and above Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s nationwide move to isolate travellers from overseas in Government-operated facilities for two weeks in the city they fly into.

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3pm: TASSIE RACING PERSONNEL FEVER-TESTED AT ENTRANCE

EVERYONE who entered the racecourse in Launceston on Saturday was fever-tested at the entrance point of the racecourse and that will be mandatory at race meetings of all codes until further notice.

All trainers, jockeys and other participants, along with essential racing operational personnel, including club officials, Office of Racing Integrity (ORI) staff and Tasracing staff, are now required to undergo the test on arrival at all race meetings.

The test comprises a 30 second process which measures each person’s temperature from their forehead or ear.

A series of questions is then asked in line with guidelines from the Tasmanian Health Department.

Any person who returns a temperature reading of more than 38 degrees, and/or submits answers which indicate possible Covid-19 exposure may be refused entry to the racecourse.

Tasracing’s oncourse medical services partner, Medical Edge, will be delegated full decision making authority on who is admitted and who is not admitted based on this process.

Further, ORI has absolute authority to enforce any decision made by Medical Edge as

part of this testing process.

Security staff will also be present at the entrance of all racing venues ensuring those

gaining entry are carrying appropriate identification.

1.30pm: OLYMPIC POSTPONEMENT OPENS DOOR FOR SUPERCARS IN TASMANIA

SUPERCARS boss Sean Seamer says the Tasmanian round of the championship may fit into the slot on the sporting calendar vacated by the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The supercars series was to pause during the Games, scheduled for July 24 to August 9, but that “hole” is now being viewed as a golden opportunity to run one or two rounds of the championship.

“We’re obviously fortunate in that our calendar was quite spaced out when we started the year,” Seamer said.

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12.30pm: TRAVELLERS TO BE ISOLATED IN GOVT FACILITIES AS CASES SURGE

THE health worker in Tasmania’s north-west that tested positive for coronavirus had worked in the Mersey Community Hospital’s emergency department, officials have confirmed.

An investigation has been launched by Public Health Services into the case to determine close contacts of the worker.

Acting Director of Public Health Scott McKeown would not say if the case was being treated as an incident of community transmission.

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