Testing in the state’s North West will be ramped up as the lockdown continues

Around 5000 quarantined health workers will be released after the weekend, as a tentative end date for the North West’s lockdown is revealed.

TASMANIA’S Health Minister says teachers, police and other public-facing workers should be tested for coronavirus as strict measures to stamp out an outbreak in the North West appear to be making inroads.

The 5000 health care works, former patients and their families who have been in quarantine are due to be released on Sunday and Monday.

All North West Regional Hospital staff must return a negative test before they are allowed back on the facility’s decontaminated wards.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said all public-facing workers, which would include retail staff, should also be tested to ensure there is no broader community spread outside the hospital cluster.

The request comes as Tasmania recorded its ninth coronavirus death.

MORE NEWS:

A petition is calling for Mersey ED to be reopened

State Government defers Hawthorn contract talks

Local Government Legislative Framework Review complete

A79-year-old woman – understood to be a resident of the Melaleuca aged care home in East Devonport – died in the LGH overnight after being taken to Launceston for care earlier in there week.

The state also hit a milestone overnight with no new cases recorded for the first time in three weeks.

Of the State’s 205 cases, 132 are from the North West.

The community has been heeding the government’s call for testing with 213 of the 342 presentations to respiratory clinics in Tasmania yesterday turning up at clinics in East Devonport, Burnie and Smithton.

A mobile clinic will be open in Queenstown today.

“Anyone with the slightest sniffle should contact the hotline or GP and get tested,” Ms Courtney said.

It comes as Premier Peter Gutwein announced the strict restrictions in the North West would continue for another week and that the region’s schools will not be open for the first week of term two.

“I am cautiously optimists about the road ahead, Mr Gutwein said.

“But we will be extending the additional retail restrictions until May 3.

“It is not a decision I take lightly and many in the North West will be unhappy about it.

“Another week of deeper testing will give us a clearer understanding of the situation and a chance to stamp out any new pockets of infection.”

There is still no clear indication when an interim report into what caused the North West’s deadly coronavirus cluster will be released.

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer on Thursday said no-one appeared to be to blame for the outbreak which he suspected would prove to stem from the treatment of infected Ruby Princess passengers in Burnie’s public hospital.