DAILY BLOG, April 10: How to stay up to date with coronavirus crisis over the weekend

Eight healthcare workers who have worked at the North West Regional Hospital and/or the North West Private Hospital are among 11 new Tasmanian cases of coronavirus. REPLAY TODAY’S DAILY UPDATE

Get all the latest updates on the coronavirus crisis sweeping the state and country.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The state’s coronavirus infections have risen to 111
• 50-year-old man arrested for allegedly escaping quarantine
• Can you still take your L-plater for driving lessons?
• Big box retail, farmer’s market future uncertain
• Campers have been fined for flouting lockdown regulations

READ: Everything we know on every case of COVID-19 in Tasmania

Have questions about business and retail, finishing school or how your movements are restricted?

9.30pm: EIGHT HEALTHCARE WORKERS AMONG 11 NEW VIRUS CASES

Eight healthcare workers who have worked at the North West Regional Hospital and/or the North West Private Hospital are among 11 new Tasmanian cases of coronavirus.

In a statement on Friday evening, Acting Director of Public Health Scott McKeown said 11 new cases had been confirmed since 6pm on Thursday, brining the state’s tally to 122.

Ten of the new cases are from the North-West and one is from the South.

Nine cases are women, two are men.

One of the cases is a teenager, two are in their 20s, three are in their 30s, one is in their 40s, one is in their 60s and three are in their 70s.

Eight of the cases are healthcare workers who have worked at the North West Regional Hospital and/or the North West Private Hospital, and two cases are patients at the NWRH.

The situation with coronavirus is changing regularly. People can stay up to date by visiting the Department of Health coronavirus website www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au or the Australian Government Department of Health website at www.health.gov.au.

7pm: TASMANIAN RECORD FOURTH CORONAVIRUS DEATH

ANOTHER elderly Tasmanian has fallen victim to coronavirus, with a man in his late 70s dying in Burnie’s North West Regional Hospital on Friday.

It is Tasmania’s fourth death from the virus from 111 confirmed cases, representing a mortality rate of 3.6 per cent — the worst in the country.

The death comes as health authorities take drastic steps to try and bring under control an outbreak of the virus at the hospital which now accounts for more than one fifth of Tasmania’s cases.

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2.45pm: WATCH THE DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE

A FOURTH Tasmanian has died from coronavirus, Health Minister Sarah Courtney has confirmed.

Tasmania’s coronavirus death rate is now the highest of any state or territory at 3.6 per cent. The next highest rate is 2.02 per cent in the Northern Territory.

Ms Courtney said also said all staff who worked at the North West Regional Hospital’s medical or surgical wards will be asked to quarantine for 14 days.

1.30pm: HOLIDAY-MAKERS ARRESTED IN POLICE CRACKDOWN

A NUMBER of would-be holiday-makers have been arrested and turned around by police.

Three people have been arrested already as police patrol holiday hot spots to stop Tasmanians flouting COVID 19 restrictions amid repeated public warnings.

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12.30pm: POLICE REVEAL CORONAVIRUS CRIME TREND

POLICE have noticed an interesting trend with more and more people staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crime rates have fallen across the state since Tasmanians were urged to stay home to save lives amid the coronavirus crisis.

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11.30am: CORONAVIRUS TEARING FAMILIES EVEN FURTHER APART

AN EAST Coast dad is facing the “painful” prospect that he might not see his 12-year-old daughter for many months due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his daughter’s identity, said he’s no doubt one of many Tasmanian dads who would become estranged from their children.

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11am: KEEP UP TO DATE THIS WEEKEND WITH COVID-19 PRESS CONFERENCES

The State Government has modified arrangements for its regular briefings on coronavirus during the Easter period.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SCHEDULE

10.30am: WONDERING WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO THIS WEEKEND OR WHAT’S OPEN?

The Mercury has compiled a list of what you can and can’t do this weekend as well as what’s open.

Easter, Good Friday 2020: What’s open in Tasmania during long weekend

What you can and can’t do in Tasmania over Easter

9.30am: BORIS JOHNSON LEAVES INTENSIVE CARE, ‘IN GOOD SPIRITS’

Boris Johnson has given Britain something to cheer about, as the UK stopped to applaud its health workers.

The British Prime Minister has been moved out of intensive care as he starts to flatten the curve in his own battle with coronavirus.

Mr Johnson, 55, was put into hospital on Sunday night, and moved to intensive care the following day.

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8.30am: TASSIE MOST VULNERABLE TO VIRUS’S EFFECTS

JUST how long Tasmania could remain in lockdown due to coronavirus is unclear, but relaxing restrictions too early could undo the state’s success in containing the spread, an epidemiologist has warned.

The state has had 111 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and three of them have died, representing a mortality rate of 2.7 per cent.

Nationwide, less than one out of every 100 confirmed cases has succumbed to the illness.

Until this week, Tasmania’s curve had been flattening, but an outbreak linked to Burnie’s North West Regional Hospital now accounts for nearly one-quarter of the state’s cases.

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7.30am: POLICE TO TAKE TO THE SKIES

AUTHORITIES say small Tasmanian communities are self-policing and ready to inform on outsiders entering their areas over the Easter break.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter is also being deployed to camping hot spots and shack communities to direct police to vehicles suspected of being out of their home area and officers say they will be ready to act.

“The helicopter will be tasked to hot spots and we will act on the intelligence gathered,” Acting Western District Commander Stuart Wilkinson said.

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7.30pm:, yesterday: FOUR MORE CASES OF CORONAVIRUS

FOUR more cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Tasmania, all from the state’s North-West.

Three of the cases are healthcare workers who have worked at the North West Regional Hospital and or the North West Private Hospital.

The fourth is a close contact of a previously identified case. It brings the state’s coronavirus tally to 111.

Public Health Director Dr Mark Veitch said the outbreak management team is already identifying and contacting any person who has had close contact with any of these staff and will ensure necessary actions are taken.

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