It is just a matter of time before coronavirus impacts Tasmanian aged care homes, the acting chief executive of Southern Cross Homes says.
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Russell Tyberek's comments come three days after a 95-year-old woman died of the disease in an aged care home in Sydney.
On Thursday Prime Minister Scott Morrison estimated the public health costs of the virus could be as high as $1 billion.
Mr Morrison said the federal government would pick up half the public health response cost in aged care homes-a cost normally borne 100 per cent by the states.
Mr Tyberek said that it was just a matter of time and that older people were at greatest risk.
"At the moment there are many unknowns in respect of this disease but we are gearing up to ensure we are ready because it is a case of when not if," he said.
Southern Cross Care operate nine nursing homes with about 800 residents and 13 retirement villages across the state catering for nearly 2000 people.
Mr Tyberek said any staff who had travelled overseas to Iran, China, South Korea, Italy or Mongolia would be asked to self isolate for 14 days before they returned to work.
"We are issuing a letter to relatives today saying that if they have travelled to those countries that they isolate themselves for 14 days before they come and visit their loved one," he said.
"Even if they are just feeling unwell please stay away until it is verified that they are completely healthy."
Mr Morrison announced an initial downpayment of $100 million fund for States and Territories to fight the coronavirus.
"There will be 50/50 cost sharing between the Commonwealth and the states for those additional costs for public health," Mr Morrison said.
"We are estimating, based on the advice we have at the moment, that this could be as much as about a billion dollars, $500 million each, that we would at least have to be allowing for."