Premier insists Tasmanians avoid going to the shack this Easter

Premier Peter Gutwein reiterates that Tasmanians should stay at home to save lives and avoid going to their shacks this Easter.

Premier Peter Gutwein has reiterated his message for the Easter long weekend: “Don’t go the the shack.” Picture: CHRIS KIDD

PREMIER Peter Gutwein has reiterated his message for the Easter long weekend: “Don’t go the the shack.”

In his daily briefing, Mr Gutwein says Tasmanians need to come together to protect those most vulnerable in the community: our elderly. By staying at home and not travelling to coastal holiday communities, where many elderly Tasmanians live, it’s hoped the spread of the virus can be slowed.

“I can not stress just how important this is.... you must abide by the rules,” said Mr Gutwein.

“Stay at home to save lives, this is becoming increasingly important.

“This is not a time to let our guard down. We will not put our communities at risk. We need to protect our families and protect our communities.”

The Premier also confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 were identified in the state overnight.

The four new cases — three female and one male — brought the state’s total to 86.

Mr Gutwein said two of the cases were from the state’s North while the other two were related to the North-West virus cluster.

“We will aggresssively track and trace contacts to get to the bottom of this,” the Premier said.

“Unfortunately this will not be the last time that we will see an outbreak in a hosptail setting like this, but I don’t want to normalise it.

“I urge you, unless you need to travel out of the North-West region, don’t. It’s important that you follow the rules.”

“The message could not be firmer or stronger: ‘stay at home’... It’s a wake up call, this is serious, this is deadly. It’s already taken lives and unfortunatley it will take more,” he said.

Mr Gutwein also spoke on reports that families and groups were seen browsing through shopping centres over the weekend, saying it is one thing to be out buying essential groceries, but another entirely to be on a social outing to the shops.

“It’s entirely irresponsible,” he said.

“It’s important for the health of your family and the health of your community that you don’t [go out to browse at the shops].

“This is serious and we need to get on top of people congregating.”

Mr Gutwein also warned shop owners and operators that social distancing rules of a minimum of 4-square meters per pserson must be abided by.

“I want to be clear, if the rules are not followed, then I will shut you down.”

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch has spoken on the coronovirus outbreak in the North-West of the state, saying that staff from the North-West Regional hospital have worked through the night to identify the close contacts of the lastest COVID-19 patients.

“An outbreak is a clinical challenge, and we are in the process of working through this.

“If you are identified as a close contact, you will be contacted.”

Mr Veitch also announced that transfers between the Mersey hospital and the North-West Regional Hospital have been put on hold.

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