Road blocks and check points are the latest measures in the North West to stop the spread of COVID-19

Road blocks and check points to stop residents travelling from the North West are the latest in hard-line measures to limit the COVID-19 outbreak, which has claimed seven lives.

THE North West region is beginning to feel like the ‘Mexico’ of Tasmania as road blocks and check points are flagged to stop residents travelling to other parts of the state and taking the coronavirus outbreak with them.

Up to 5000 health care workers, former North West Regional Hospital patients and their families are already in quarantine and all but a handful of food shops are closed.

A Burnie City Council spokesman said with a quarter of the city’s population in

quarantine, the enormity of the threat to the community could not be ignored

But Premier Peter Gutwein said reports of people from Burnie driving almost 150km to Launceston to shop in Spotlight and Bunnings showed stricter lockdown measures were needed.

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“This virus travels with people. We have taken every step possible to protect Tasmania from the pandemic but it is obvious we need to do more,” he said on Friday.

“The stay at home order will now be strictly policed and restrictions in the North West could be strengthened to limit the outbreak to that region

“There could be road blocks and check points and if residents cannot prove their travel is essential they will be sent home.

“Exercise close to home and shop for essential items in the local area Also if you are from the North or South of the state do not got to the North West unless you have to.”

However, Mr Gutwein said critical freight routes will be maintained.

The Burnie City Council has laid off non-essential staff and has asked the Australian Services Union “to play a long game” in responding to the threat posed by the outbreak.

Some staff are working from home.

Where that is not possible, non-essential services have been suspended until April 26.

“If we as a community do not do everything we can to stop the transmission now, we are at risk of the virus getting out of control, not only resulting in more deaths, but also a broader, deeper and longer lockdown,” the council said.

“We would urge the ASU to see that a period of caution now may assist in leading to an earlier return to normal operations, not only for council but across the whole community.”