Two Tasmanian COVID-19 patients were also suffering from serious life-threatening conditions

UPDATED: Two Tasmanians with life-threatening conditions who were also diagnosed with COVID-19 have died but are not being counted in the state’s coronavirus death tally as the Coroner investigates.

TWO Tasmanians who died after previously contracting coronavirus were also suffering from progressive life-threatening conditions, the state’s Public Health Director says.

A man in his 60s died on Sunday morning at the North West Regional Hospital and a woman, also in her 60s, died on Monday morning at the same facility.

Their deaths have been referred to the Coroner and are not currently being counted as coronavirus-related deaths.

The North West Regional Hospital in Burnie. (AAP Image/Simon Sturzaker)

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch confirmed both people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the second half of March.

“Both had progressive life-threatening conditions that were likely to lead to death in the short to medium-term,’’ he said.

“Both of them did have progressive illness from their underlying conditions and were in hospital when they died.”

Dr Veitch said both spent time in hospital before their diagnosis with coronavirus, around the time of their diagnosis and subsequently towards their death, but both also spent a period of time out of hospital.

Dr Veitch said up until the time of their death, they were being managed as if they could be infectious to other people.

“We have to consider anybody who comes into a hospital who’s previously had coronavirus infection as potentially having it detectable in their body,’’ he said.

“So people who are readmitted to hospital even after recovery from the early clinical phases of coronavirus infection will be tested for coronavirus and will sometimes find it present.

“And of course the infection control measures are put up around those people in any case.”

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Dr Veitch said he was limited in the details he could provide because the deaths were now being considered by the Coroner.

But he said people who had serious pre-existing illnesses were more susceptible to the effects of the virus.

“People who have underlying conditions are less likely to tolerate the insult that coronavirus does to their body,’’ he said.

“However even quite old people can survive coronavirus infection — and there have been a couple of reports of people over 100 years old surviving coronavirus infection — so some people are better able to fight it off than others.”

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Dr Veitch and Premier Peter Gutwein both extended their sympathies to the families and friends of the two people who had died.

“I understand this would be an extremely difficult time and sad time for the families and friends of those two people ... and I extend my deepest sympathies to them,’’ Mr Gutwein said.