Tasmania becomes the latest state in Australia to declare a public health emergency due to the killer coronavirus outbreak
- Tasmania will declare public health emergency on Tuesday due to coronavirus
- The director of public health will be able to isolate or quarantine people in state
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Tasmania has become the latest state to declare a public health emergency due to the outbreak of the killer coronavirus.
This will mean people can be isolated, evacuated or quarantined under recommendations by the director of public health.
The state will declare the public health emergency on Tuesday in attempts to stop the spread of the virus.
People who arrive in Tasmania from overseas will have to isolate for 14 days.
Tasmania will declare a public health emergency on Tuesday in the wake of the spread of coronavirus
Scott McKeown, Public Health deputy director, said he would also have the power to ban people from entering certain areas as well as forcing others to leave.
‘These powers will allow the director to slow COVID-19 spread in Tasmania when it occurs and protect people must vulnerable to the spread,’ Dr McKeown said, The Examiner reported.
The director also said other measures may be taken out including banning the use of poker machines to prevent spreading the disease.
Dr McKeown said more information would be released following a Federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Premier Peter Gutwein said a state of emergency in Tasmania would not yet be declared.
‘This is not a reaction to an imminent threat,’ he said.
‘These are the next steps in our proportionate and scaled response we are taking.’
More to come.