A PUBLIC health emergency has been announced in Tasmania today in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The measure was announced today in a press conference featuring Premier Peter Gutwein, Health Minister Sarah Courtney and Acting Director of Public Health Scott McKeown.Dr McKeown said COVID-19 illness can be severe and that public health measures are required to mitigate risk.

He said the public health emergency powers are broad and include the ability to issue directions to people, ban people from entering particular areas and "take any action that is required to manage the threat of COVID-19 to the public".

He said while most people who contract COVID-19 will experience "mild disease", it can be fatal.

Dr McKeown said the latest announcement would ensure "sufficient emergency powers" to control the threat of the pandemic now and in the coming months.

It comes as the state's public health department prepares to announce a public health emergency.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the Government has taken possession of the Royal Hobart Hospital's K-Block development following ongoing delays.

Ms Courtney said this morning that the project team had determined outstanding issues would be addressed during operational commissioning.

Water quality and air conditioning noise had been blamed for continued delays to the opening of the long-awaited development.

Ms Courtney did not confirm whether K-Block could be used as a coronavirus-specific area to treat patients.

"I want Tasmanians to feel reassured that we're being proactive but it is an evolving situation,'' she said.

Ms Courtney urged Tasmanians to take care with their personal hygiene.

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SCHOOLS MAKE CALL ON CLOSURES

SCHOOL and university campuses will be looking empty with the state’s university and two schools closing their doors to transition to online learning.

Following Launceston’s Scotch Oakburn College’s move to online teaching for two weeks, Southern Christian College announced today it would close from Tuesday.

In a letter to parents, College Council chairman Adrian McKenna said the school’s campus would close, with students to move to online learning for at least two weeks.

The college will be open on Tuesday and parents can choose whether to send their children to school for what will be a regular school day.

“College staff will be on site and will be preparing for the full roll-out of our online teaching modules,” Mr McKenna said.

“We are keenly aware of the difficulties this decision will create for many families. We can only ask for your support, in hope that the spread of the virus in our community will be successfully limited.”

Government schools have not yet begun closing. However, activities such as assemblies, camps and parent-teacher meetings have been cancelled or postponed.

Catholic schools will remain open for the time being.

Catholic Education Tasmania confirmed schools would remain open while it was still deemed safe.

Measures were in place in Catholic schools aimed at minimising risk to students, families and staff.

media_camera St Mary's College in Hobart will remain open for now.

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Catholic Education Tasmania said it would continue to take advice from public health officials and the Minister for Education and Training in relation to coronavirus.

Scotch College became the first Tasmanian school to close its campus due to coronavirus, moving students to full e-learning from home for at least the next two weeks.

The University of Tasmania on Monday began a staged transition to get students and staff working from home.

In an email to staff, Vice-Chancellor Rufus Black said their first priority would be the delivery of lectures online, and then to add online tutorials, with the aim to move toward a whole institution test on Friday.

media_camera The Hobart Twilight Market has suspended all future events effective immediately.

TWILIGHT MARKET LATEST EVENT TO PULL THE PIN

MORE Tasmanian events have joined the ever-growing list of those being cancelled or postponed.

With the future of Salamanca Market still in the air, the Hobart Twilight Market has suspended all future events effective immediately.

The market was set to take place on Friday alongside the launch of the inaugural Tasmanian Multicultural Festival, operations manager Justin Davies said.

The Mutlicultural Council of Tasmania has cancelled many of its Harmony Day activities, however encouraged Tasmanians to still celebrate.

And Street Eats @ Franko will be closed indefinitely, with the event unlikely to recommence until December.

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HOW YOU CAN HELP THE LOCAL FOOD INDUSTRY

A HOBART food blog has launched a campaign to get hungry Tasmanians into local businesses to help them survive what it calls “troubling times for the Tasmanian hospitality industry.”

Yippee Pie Yay, adventures in foods and stuffs, says there are many ways local consumers can help one of the industries that will be hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Suggestions include skipping delivery in favour of dining out, visiting roadside vendors and supporting food trucks.

Big Henry’s Food Van lamented on its Facebook site this week that tough times were on the horizon as more and more public events are cancelled.

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Coronavirus shopping chaos: "I'm going to kill him!" Supermarkets around the world have been the epicenter of panic and chaos as the death toll rises for coronavirus.

GPS WANT STRONGER ACTION

More than 100 Tasmanian general practitioners have called on the State Government to take tougher action to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

An open letter to Health Minister Sarah Courtney urges the Government to immediately close schools, hotels, places of worship, gyms and other public places to help control the spread of the potentially deadly virus.

The letter, composed by Kingston doctor Emily Isham, outlines the case for more restrictive social distancing measures as argues the 500-people limit is not enough.

“Our state’s healthcare system is facing an impending disaster, and at an individual level it is extremely concerning that new cases could be travelling in by the day, and schools could be propagating it – without our knowledge. We cannot confirm that there is no community spread currently in Tasmania,” the letter states.

This afternoon the State Government released a letter from Director of Public Health Mark Veitch explaining the decision not to close schools.

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HEAVY FINES TO APPLY FOR IGNORING ISOLATION DIRECTIVES

THE state’s Director of Public Health says people who disobey orders to self-isolate to contain the risk of coronavirus could face heavy fines.

But Dr Mark Veitch says health authorities would prefer to rely on people’s community spirit and common sense.

“We want people to recognise their obligation to the community, as they would expect from others and self-isolate without the requirement to be forcibly self-isolated if you like,” he told reporters this morning.

“However, there are powers in the public domain through either public health emergency provisions … the Director of Public Health can require people or a class of people to stay in a secure place if they pose a risk to the community.

“There are penalties in up to in the thousands of dollars that apply to that.

“What we really want to do is for people to understand why are they being asked so self-isolate, to do so, and should they need resources to make that possible for them to engage with us to make sure that those resources can be provided by one or another agency.”

KEY POINTS:

The seventh case of coronavirus in Tasmania has been confirmed

Incoming travellers will need to provide their details if they are returning from travel overseas.

GPs call for immediate school closures to control the spread of the disease.

Heavy penalties will apply to those who contravene self-isolation mandates.

Three people who showed coronavirus symptoms have been released from hospital

Launceston private school Scotch Oakburn College has become the first Tasmanian school to close due to the coronavirus

No more cruise ships will be allowed to dock in Tasmania until the end of June

A GP and Labor candidate says Tasmania’s schools and universities need to be closed now

Elective surgery could stall in Tasmania as hospitals look to increase capacity and ways to best to isolate patients as the coronavirus crisis grows.

The final round of the Sheffield Shield has been called off

PORT SCREENING NOT BENEFICIAL, AUTHORITIES SAY

TASMANIAN health authorities have considered screening people at air and sea ports for fever, but the measure would not be a good use of resources, the state’s health director says.

Labor yesterday called for increased screening at airports and for passengers getting off the Spirit of Tasmania.

Dr Mark Veitch said fever checks, as seen in some overseas airports, was not an effective response – in part because of a high rate of false positives.

media_camera Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health says airport and port screening may result in false positives. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“That has been considered, and research done on previous outbreaks such as SARS and influenza,” he said.

“What happens if you do screening at the airport is that because people aren’t necessarily sick when they come through the gate, you miss them. You also pick up a lot of people who don’t have coronavirus.

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“So in a setting where it’s possible with people are coming from overseas with this infection but most people won’t, it’s a very inefficient use of resources.

“So that’s why the measures of asking everybody who comes in from overseas to isolate themselves for two weeks is a much more comprehensive strategy and a much more efficient way of picking up ill people than border screening with temperature probes.”

PREMIER TO CONSULT WITH SALAMANCA MARKETS

media_camera Premier Peter Gutwein said he will consult with the Salamanca Markets to see if the event can continue, despite recommendations that gatherings of 500 or more should be avoided. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

THE Salamanca Markets may continue as Premier Peter Gutwein promises to consult with the event to ensure its future.

Mr Gutwein has also hammered home that self-isolation policies handed down by the Federal Government last night will be enforced and penalties will apply.

“It is a very serious matter,” he said.

Addressing the media today Mr Gutwein said all of the state’s entry points will have posters, signage and brochures to provide information for incoming travellers and Tasmanians.

From tomorrow Tasmanian arrival cards will he introduced. Incoming travellers will need to provide their details, whether they are Tasmanian or visitors – if they are returning from travel overseas.

“This will be a challenging time for Tasmanians,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Your health and wellbeing is the most important factor in our thinking.”

State politics and the judicial system will continue. Parliament will continue from tomorrow as measures are put in place for social distancing in Tasmania’s courts.

“Appropriate social distancing will need to be considered,” Mr Gutwein said.

“It’s important that those functions of government, those functions of business … that they do continue through this period.

“We need to take every step that we possibly can to flatten the curve.”

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said Tasmania’s seventh case of coronavirus is in a stable condition in isolation.

The Public Health Service has contacted the woman’s close contacts, she said.

Ms Courtney further assured the public that all cases are directly linked to or involved with people who have arrived from overseas.

“It’s important that we all remain vigilant,” she said.

Currently there are about 90 people in self-isolation throughout Tasmania.

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said checking people for fevers at ports and airports has been considered.

However he said it could pick up people who do not have coronavirus, or fail to pick up people who are not yet showing symptoms.

Dr Veitch also said three of the four people who have showed coronavirus symptoms have been released from hospital.

WOOLWORTHS INTRODUCES DEDICATED SHOPPING HOUR

SUPERMARKET giant Woolworths will introduce a dedicated shopping hour for the elderly and people with disabilities, prompted by the “unprecedented demand” of groceries during the coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative will be between 7am and 8am from Tuesday, March 17 until at least Friday, “exclusively” for people with a government-issued concession card.

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NEXT STEPS IN THE UNIVERSITY’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

THE University of Tasmania will communicate with staff and students today that it is beginning a staged transition to online course learning and working from home as part of its ongoing response to COVID-19.

The University initiated a formal response to the emergence of the illness in January and has worked closely with Public Health, rigorously following national guidelines.

In a message to staff and students, the University will outline the next steps in its risk-mitigation strategy and advice, including:

• A staged transition to delivering our teaching online where possible;

• The introduction of a split-teams model of staffing, with parts of our teams working from home on a two-week rotation;

• A case-by-case review of events where people gather – in line with new national guidelines – which may affect occasions such as graduations and Open Day;

• Public Health advice that our shared facilities on campus are safe to be continued to be used;

• Cessation of international travel and guidance that interstate travel should be undertaken only if strictly necessary.

SEVENTH CORONAVIRUS CASE CONFIRMED

A WOMAN in her 50s has tested positive for coronavirus in Tasmania.

She is in a stable condition and is being managed in isolation with appropriate medical care.

Dr Scott McKeown, Acting Director of Public Health said this case was identified as a close contact during the public health investigation of a previous Tasmanian case, who had recently travelled overseas.

The case was aboard a privately-chartered yacht for more than 24 hours with a person who later tested positive and became a confirmed case.

Public Health Services identified and contacted the woman’s close contacts, including other people aboard the yacht who are already being treated as close contacts.

“These people will be required to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days and will receive daily follow up from PHS staff,” Dr McKeown said.

“It is Tasmania’s seventh confirmed case of coronavirus. Five cases are stable and remain in isolation receiving medical care. Another case has been discharged from hospital.

“All Tasmanian cases are directly linked to people or involve people who have arrived in Tasmania from overseas.

“Evidence of transmission within our community outside of these cases has not been identified.”

Important information for the public:

Anyone who develops respiratory symptoms within 14 days of returning from overseas should self-quarantine and ring the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or contact their GP. If you are experiencing extreme symptoms which require emergency treatment ring triple-0 or go to the emergency department.

People can help stop the spread of respiratory illness by washing their hands regularly with soap and water and covering sneezes and coughs with a tissue or their elbow.

It is important to remember that if you are unwell – do not attend work or school or as a visitor to other vulnerable settings such as aged care homes, hospitals, and seek medical advice as appropriate.

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

Anyone requiring more information about coronavirus should contact the National coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.

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