Where every case of coronavirus in Tasmania has occurred has been revealed

For months Tasmania has lagged behind the rest of the country with its health department failing to provide location data for COVID-19 cases. Now the figures have been released. See where each case of coronavirus occurred across the state >>

TASMANIA has lagged behind the rest of the country with its health department failing to provide location data for COVID-19 cases around the state.

To date there are 223 cases, which until now were split by Tasmania’s Health Department areas: the North West, the North and the South.

After pressure from the Mercury the Health Department has divulged the figures, showing the spread of coronavirus across the state.

Acting Director of Public Health said the map shows the Local Government Area of a confirmed case is determined by their residential address.

Acting Public Health Director Scott McKeown addresses the media during the Tasmanian Government daily COVID-19 update. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“The data does not include three cases of people from interstate who were managed in Tasmania after testing positive,” he said.

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“This data will be updated on a weekly basis. At all times, Public Health Services takes the confidentiality of patients extremely seriously, and some locality data may be withheld if it unnecessarily compromises a patient’s privacy.”

There are eight Local Government Areas that have not had a confirmed case in a resident.

Region Local Government Area Number of cases

South Brighton 2

South Clarence 5

South Derwent Valley 4

South Glenorchy 3

South Hobart 11

South Huon Valley 6

South Kingborough 12

South Sorell 1

North George Town 1

North Launceston 20

North Meander Valley 2

North Northern Midlands 3

North West Tamar 2

North West Burnie 63

North West Central Coast 35

North West Circular Head 7

North West Devonport 12

North West Kentish 2

North West Latrobe 4

North West Waratah-Wynyard 23

North West West Coast 2

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch addresses the media during the Tasmanian Government daily COVID-19 update. Picture: Zak Simmonds

EARLIER: Last week Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said he expected location data to be released this week based on local government areas.

“I’m sorry we haven’t quite got to the point of a public dashboard at the local government level,” Dr Veitch said on Friday.

“But the Public Health technology group has been working on the data and it’s not very far off.

“By some time next week I expect we will have data that will include, probably not postcode level data, but probably local government area data.”

Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria had publicly available local government area data of coronavirus cases at the end of March. South Australia’s data was available shortly after on April 1.

However on Monday, Acting Director of Public Health Dr Scott McKeown backflipped on what Dr Veitch had announced last week.

“We haven’t got a date set for that (data). We want to be clear that we have very good processes in place to ensure the data is accurate and reliable,” he said.

“And we also want to make sure that there is no risk that any person is able to be identified on the basis of that data.

“I can’t commit to a date but I understand there’s expectation around that information. We’ll look to provide it soon.”

Dr McKeown was unable to say if the release would be a matter of days or weeks.

“We want to make sure firstly we have robust processes in place to ensure that the information is the best quality and doesn’t lead to identifying anyone first,” he said.

Prior to the release, Labor leader Rebecca White said the location data will remind Tasmanians of the need to stay vigilant, but criticised the timing, saying more staff are needed on the project.

Labor leader Rebecca White said more hands were needed on deck, prior to the data release. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“Labor welcomes the Government’s commitment to release data showing where COVID-19 cases are by Local Government area as a measure to help the community understand the spread of the virus and remind people of the need to remain vigilant,” she said.

“Labor understands public health authorities are extremely busy dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and that the government is balancing transparency with legitimate privacy concerns.

“The delay in providing a breakdown of information about COVID-19 cases suggests the government needs to increase the number of staff working on this so the public can have access to more timely information about the public health emergency they are facing.”

The Greens echoed Labor’s sentiments, Dr Rosalie Woodruff, the Greens health spokesperson stating transparency is key during pandemics.

“Transparency is a very important part of government maintaining public trust and confidence during this very abnormal and stressful period,” she said.

“The location of each case has always been known to Public Health, and we don’t understand the reason for lagging so far behind other states.

“Given Tasmania has a lot of postcodes with very small numbers of people, we are comfortable with the information being available at municipal level.”

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WHAT ABOUT OTHER PUBLIC DATA?

COVID-19 location data isn’t the only public data Tasmania is missing in comparison to mainland capitals, with other states publishing crime statistics and resource data in real time.

A Tasmania Police spokesperson said they release their Corporate Performance Report once a month on their web site.

The 65-page document detailing statistics on a range of issues such as public safety, public order, offences again the person, response times, family violence and crime.