Tasmania’s deadly North-West hospital outbreak will provide infection answers

The findings of an investigation into what went wrong in the North-West will be shared with clinicians and scientists across the globe.

THE Tasmanian Health Department’s investigation into what went wrong in the North- West will be shared with the rest of the world as a case study in methods of clinical care and infection control during a coronavirus pandemic.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said clinicians and scientists had already expressed interest in learning the findings of the investigation as the state worked to get on top of the deadly coronavirus cluster stemming from the region’s hospitals.

“Clinicians and scientists are examining the methods of clinical care and infection control in a hospital setting and the findings will be released,” Ms Courtney said.

“What we learn will be applied to the THS and then be shared with other jurisdictions”

Health Minister Sarah Courtney. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Of Tasmania’s 201 COVID-19 cases, 114 are associated with the outbreak at the North West Regional Hospital and the nearby private hospital. Two thirds of those infected are staff. The rest are patients and close contacts of staff and patients.

Some better news came on Tuesday with just one new case being added to the state total — a man in his 90s who is a former NWRH patient.

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Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said anyone in the North-West with a sniffle or a sore throat needed to get tested if authorities were going to keep on top of the situation.

The state recorded 260 presentation to coronavirus clinics on Wednesday, 180 of those in the North-West.

However, the number of tests carried out fell below 100 for the first time in days.

A radio campaign will be launched and residents will be sent an SMS reminding them to get tested if they display any symptoms.

A resident at one of the three aged care homes on alert for infections has been diagnosed with coronavirus. Five more have developed minor respiratory illness this week and were tested on Wednesday.

North-West Regional Hospital. Picture: PATRICK GEE

A male nurse who had worked at the NWRH and private hospital was shown to have also worked shifts at Penguin’s Coroneagh Park home, Eliza Purton home in Ulverstone and Melaleuca Home in East Devonport.

Dr Veitch said there was no evidence of transmission in the community outside of the hospital cluster, but testing needed to be increased over the next few days to rule that out.

“We need a couple of hundreds test per days for the next few days,” Dr Veitch said.

“Surveillance is needed for another week before I am heartened and confident we are getting on top of the cluster.”