Extra resources will be deployed to help prepare Tasmania for more potential cases of coronavirus as health experts urge community members not to panic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Friday Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the state government was setting up an emergency coordination centre within the Department of Health, as part of a higher level two response to coronavirus.
"This is a prudent approach because we are seeing more global pressure with regards to coronavirus and we're also seeing person-to-person contact in other jurisdictions in Australia," she said.
IN OTHER NEWS
Ms Courtney said despite escalating its response, the government was taking a precautionary approach and the risk of Tasmanians contracting coronavirus remains low.
Infectious disease specialist Professor Katie Flanagan joined Ms Courtney at Launceston General Hospital on Friday to urge the community to remain calm.
Professor Flanagan said there was no suggestion a 40-year-old man, diagnosed with coronavirus and in quarantine at the LGH, had passed the disease on to anyone else.
"This particular person is actually really well and is pretty much asymptomatic now," she said.
"This particular man has been fairly well the whole time and hasn't needed any extra medical care other than just observation and a little bit of support because this has been very stressful for him.
"It's totally business as usual in the hospital, we're not panicking about this we're just making sure we're prepared."
Most of the passengers who were on board Virgin flight VA-1368 from Melboune to Launceston with the coronavirus patient on Saturday have been contacted and given appropriate advice.
Professor Flanagan said while there was "panic" about coronavirus, tests would not be carried out for no reason.
"If you do come here [the coronavirus testing clinic at LGH] we will go through your history and decide if there is any indication to test you," she said.
"We won't be testing people if they don't actually need to be tested and don't have a significant travel history. If you've not been to any of the high risk countries then it's unlikely we would want to actually do a test."
Anyone who thinks they may have coronavirus should call the Public Health Hotline for advice on 1800 671 738, Professor Flanagan urged.
"If you have travelled to Iran, South Korea, Italy or China you are supposed to self-quarantine for 14 days at home," she said.
In Tasmania so far, 81 negative coronavirus tests have been returned. One was positive.