Staff from a Tasmanian hospital have spoken about alleged shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and communication breakdowns as the north-west region grapples with a coronavirus crisis.

Key points: Six North West Regional Hospital staff say they've struggled with a shortage of personal protective equipment

Six North West Regional Hospital staff say they've struggled with a shortage of personal protective equipment More than 60 of Tasmania's 165 coronavirus cases are linked to the North West Regional Hospital

More than 60 of Tasmania's 165 coronavirus cases are linked to the North West Regional Hospital Police say they are investigating allegations medical staff attended a social gathering in breach of social distancing orders

About half of Tasmania's confirmed 165 COVID-19 cases are directly linked to the North West Regional Hospital, which, along with the neighbouring private hospital, has closed ahead of a deep clean.

A 50-member Australian Defence Force team, joined by seven Australian Medical Assistance (AUSMAT) personnel, are assisting in the operation.

Hospital staff and their families across both sites — believed to be up to 5,000 people — were directed via text message on Sunday to prepare for two weeks in home isolation.

Health and Community Services Union state secretary Tim Jacobson said the directive came as a "big shock" to many staff, particularly those who worked away from the frontline.

"A lot of staff are questioning why they have been isolated and whether in fact it relates to any contact or any positive cases in their own area," Mr Jacobson said.

Australian Defence Force and AUSMAT personnel are helping with a deep clean of both hospitals. ( ABC News: Manika Dadson )

A departmental investigation into the primary source of infection — and how it spread so quickly — is underway at the facility.

It is believed the outbreak began with a Ruby Princess cruise ship passenger from Tasmania, who died on March 30, but investigations into the bulk of cases are ongoing.

On Tuesday, authorities announced 15 new cases had been found in Tasmania, with all but one confirmed as being from the north-west region.

One senior doctor at the North West Regional Hospital, who asked not to be named, said there had been PPE shortages in the lead-up to the current outbreak.

Tasmania COVID-19 snapshot Confirmed cases: 226

Confirmed cases: 226 Deaths: 13, 12 in north-west What do I do if I think I have coronavirus? If you think you might have COVID-19 phone your GP or the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738. Need an interpreter? Phone the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and tell them your language. For more information and factsheets: Visit the Tasmanian Government's coronavirus page here.

"We were short of some key things, including appropriate masks," the doctor said.

"There was a sense of frustration amongst staff, especially allied health staff, about this lack of PPE.

"Those points were made clear to the Health Department through appropriate managerial staff at the hospital after our Ruby Princess patient arrived, and they were responsive.

"But the sense was that they were playing catch-up, there was a level of unpreparedness in the response."

The doctor said he had spoken to colleagues, now in isolation with their families, who shared his frustrations.

"We heard rumours of PPE being delivered by unorthodox means, parts of it were haphazard," he said.

"We are angry that this has happened, that families have been exposed. We also recognise the Government is trying to play catch-up in horrible circumstances."

More than 60 cases of coronavirus are linked to the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie. ( ABC News: Jessica Moran )

PPE from St Luke's Hospital in Launceston travelled 150 kilometres to the North West Private Hospital on Friday.

"North West Private Hospital was sufficiently stocked with PPE masks prior to the Easter long weekend, and was offered extra supplies by St Luke's Hospital, which they gladly accepted," a spokesman said.

The ABC understands at least one consignment of PPE was delivered to the hospital by domestic taxi.

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Party allegations 'didn't do our mental health any good'

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy repeated allegations of a medical staff party in the north-west to a New Zealand parliamentary committee on Tuesday — but his comments were described by Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein as "rumours".

Dr Murphy walked back the claims later on Tuesday.

Contact tracing has not confirmed the alleged party took place, but Tasmania Police have said they were looking into the claims.

Waratah-Wynyard councillor and HACSU delegate Andrea Courtney, who works in health care in the north-west, said the comments by the Chief Medical Officer "didn't do our mental health any good".

"With the circumstances they've been dealing with, I think it's grossly unfair and risky for the health of all our friends and family," Ms Courtney said.

"When there's rumours out there from somewhere in senior government … suggesting we've risked the health of our community, it's really heartbreaking and it's hard to hear that these people will probably go through public vilification over rumours."

Several sources said there was a sense among North West health workers that coronavirus would more likely affect larger cities, such as Hobart.

Three staff at the North West Regional Hospital claimed some staff had continued flouting social-distancing rules within hospital grounds.

One nurse said: "I feel this was a slow-motion disaster waiting to happen."

The nurse, who normally works in the surgical ward, said she also witnessed a "relaxed" attitude to hand hygiene among staff.

One of three doctors who spoke to the ABC on the condition of anonymity said they were rotated between the north west's three hospitals during the outbreak.

That doctor — now in isolation with family — said they had shown no symptoms of COVID-19.

Health workers need 'clarity' about shifts, union says

The ABC has been told some Ambulance Tasmania staff found out via a post on a Facebook page that the Mersey Community Hospital's emergency department would operate under reduced hours.

A tarpaulin has been draped across the entrance of the now closed North West Regional Hospital in Burnie. ( ABC News: Jessica Moran )

Broader public service staff were emailed by Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Jenny Gale late on Easter Sunday with a request only essential workers return to work on Wednesday morning.

Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Tom Lynch said it was important public sector workers had "clarity" about their shifts.

"Nobody should be leaving their home in the north-west unless it's absolutely necessary and it'll be a real failure if a lot of people head out tomorrow unnecessarily," Mr Lynch said.

In a statement, Health Minister Sarah Courtney, said the Government have "had available the appropriate PPE requirements for all our Tasmanian hospitals, and this continues to be a key priority of the THS".

"Like other jurisdictions, we know there are significant global supply chain issues, however we have taken a proactive stance and secured alternate suppliers for PPE," she said.

"In terms of communication, this is a dynamic situation and we are responding to challenges quickly. At every step we endeavour to keep both our hardworking staff and the public informed."