Those that failed to put in place adequate self-isolation and social distancing measures in time have seen an exponential rise, resulting in a peak that completely crushes public health systems and leaves hospitals having to prioritise who they take into ICU.

So when is the right time for the strongest measures possible? Right at the start. Where Tasmania was about a week ago.

Between February 1 and 20, cases in Australia rose from 10 to 15. From February 20 to March 13, they rose to 177. Looking at the evidence overseas, the measures that Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday could already be too little, too late, to prevent a catastrophic strain on health systems, particularly in NSW. But that's the mainland.

Here in Tasmania, our cases went from one to six between March 2 and 14. While it's true that the coronavirus could be spreading undetected in the community - as feared by doctors - there could still be time to stop this exponential curve. But it'll need to happen right away.

Is it now time for all airport arrivals in Tasmania to self-isolate for at least 14 days? Do we follow the lead of more densely-populated countries like Hong Kong and Singapore and close schools? And surely it must be time for a mass-public health advertising campaign to tell Tasmanians exactly how to prevent the spread.

Victoria has taken the lead in announcing an elective surgery blitz, resigned to the fact that the coronavirus is going to hit the state hard in coming weeks. In Tasmania, we could be heading in the other direction by delaying elective surgery until this is over. No one knows when it will be over, though. Do we want already unwell Tasmanians waiting indefinitely for elective surgery? Does our system even have the capacity to ramp up surgeries? That seems unlikely.

Of course, above all, we all have a part to play in stopping the spread. Disinfect your hands at every opportunity, avoid physical contact with others, keep your distance and suggest that others do likewise.