About 5000 people have been forced into quarantine in northwest Tasmania as health authorities battle a COVID-19 outbreak at two hospitals.

The North West Regional Hospital and North West Private Hospital in Burnie shut on Monday morning, with patients being transferred elsewhere.

Of 144 coronavirus cases in Tasmania, 60 are linked to the hospital outbreak and 42 are healthcare workers at the facilities.

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About 1200 staff from the hospitals have been ordered to quarantine for two weeks along with their households, about 5000 people in total, Premier Peter Gutwein said on Monday.

"Never before has a premier had to ask a community to do this," he said.

"I've got to admit, the responsibility rests heavy on me in having to make these decisions. But I would ask that you work with us.

"This is the best way that we can get on top of this, that we can stop the spread of this insidious disease."

AAP

Mr Gutwein announced on Sunday the move to shut the hospitals after in a spike in northwest virus cases.

The two hospitals will undergo a deep clean by specialist teams.

Health workers will arrive in the state this week from the Australian Medical Assistance Team, plus members of the Australian Defence Force, to boost resources, Mr Gutwein said.

The state government is aiming to reopen the emergency department in 72 hours, with the goal of getting the hospitals back online after two weeks.

Testing will be dramatically ramped up in the region with between 200-300 people to be tested per day, up from the current figure of about 80.

Twenty-three patients are being transferred to the Mersey Community Hospital at nearby Latrobe.

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Eight health care workers, one patient and two close contacts of people who previously tested positive were among the latest northwest confirmed cases on Sunday night.

The state recorded its fifth virus death on Sunday, while 57 people are recovering.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.

If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.

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