Talking Point: Community clinics and testing, Tasmania ramps up coronavirus plans

SARAH COURTNEY: Effort to prevent coronavirus is Tasmanian Government’s top priority, while preparations including community clinics are in hand

BORDERS NOT IMPENETRABLE: Passengers wait at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv in Israel, on Thursday. Picture: AFP

TASMANIANS can be confident our state’s health authorities are taking the threat of coronavirus extremely seriously.

We have measures in place to reduce the chance of it entering Tasmania, and we are prepared to contain and slow the spread, in the event that it does, as part of our preparations to provide the best quality care to Tasmanians.

We know the increased spread of coronavirus from China to other countries in new locations shows the challenges containing the outbreak, which means we cannot escape the real possibility this virus may come to our shores.

Efforts to stop coronavirus arriving here is the Tasmanian majority Liberal Government’s top priority, and we have been working closely with the Australian Government and other jurisdictions to ensure co-ordinated efforts. Just yesterday I met with my interstate counterparts at the COAG Health Council in Melbourne to discuss the national response to the outbreak, and provide updates on prevention and preparedness, including strict management of international arrival points, quarantine for returning travellers, and effective information provided to people entering the country.

To that end, the Tasmanian Government has made the decision to stand up the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC), to ensure Tasmania continues to be well prepared and to continue to keep our communities safe.

Efforts by our Public Health officials have so far been successful in preventing coronavirus from entering Tasmania. As I write, the state is yet to have any positive results from coronavirus, and we are working hard to ensure this continues to be the case.

As part of our ongoing vigilance, 44 tests have been carried out on 42 people, with all tests negative. The state’s public health officials and clinical experts have been working around the clock to maintain our precautionary approach, as well as keeping the public informed through regular updates.

However, we need to ensure that while preventive work is under way, robust plans are in place so that Tasmania is prepared for the scenario where coronavirus does enter the state.

Tourists in central Milan on Thursday. Picture: AFP

You only need to consider countries such as Italy and Iran to see that borders are not impenetrable for viruses such as coronavirus. In 2009, Tasmania, like the rest of the country and indeed much of the world, responded to the impacts of the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Referred to widely as swine flu, laboratory testing confirmed that more than 3000 Tasmanians caught the H1N1 strain, with the state recording seven deaths during the outbreak.

At the time, our emergency response systems rose to meet the challenge, establishing processes to meet the needs of the community and, as much as possible, limit the impact on our state’s acute public hospital system. These experiences from a decade ago resulted in system-wide planning and established protocols that allow us to effectively respond to any emerging threats by infectious outbreaks – including coronavirus. As an example, we are currently examining how the establishment and operation of community-based clinics could best assist us in responding.

Similar to those used in 2009, these clinics provide capacity to assess patients and collect samples in locations that allow us to manage patient flow away from emergency departments and hospitals, helping to minimise the risk of infection within the community.

Alongside this measure, the Tasmanian Government is also examining our public hospital capacity and how we can best and most safely accommodate those patients requiring acute care. This includes using negative pressure rooms at hospitals around the state, and also identifying areas of our hospitals that have appropriate air handling in place so patients can be cared for safely while minimising the risk of exposure and infection to staff and other patients.

While no place is immune, it is important Tasmanians continue to go about their daily lives with confidence, knowing that our public health system is fully prepared to respond to this challenge.

Sarah Courtney is Tasmanian Health Minister and Liberal MHA for Bass.