For some it is a disease that will pose no more of a threat than the flu. Most people will fully recover.

But some people who become infected by coronavirus will be at a much greater risk of more severe illness.

These include the elderly, those with chronic medical conditions and those with low immune systems.

This demographic of people also just happen to make up a significant proportion of Tasmania's population.

This is why self isolation is so important. But that doesn't mean it will be easy.

And while we are being asked to physically shut ourselves away from the outside world, it has actually never been more important to make sure we aren't socially checking out completely.

Because the concept of social isolation brings with it a whole new realm of symptoms, some which could be a lot harder to identify than the physical characteristics of a virus.

So just as we must remain vigilant about measures such as washing our hands and minimising contact, we must also ensure we are are taking care of our mental health.

It is something we all contend with on a daily basis.

Like our physical health, if left untreated you will likely become unwell.

That being said, not everyone experiences mental illness.

But in such uncertain times, as we face challenges that will surely test our patience and our limits, our mental health must remain a priority.

As of Saturday afternoon there was 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania.

But with a population of more than half a million, it is fair to say most of us would have already been impacted by this pandemic - in one way or another.

For many it's uncertainly over a job and how one will continue to provide for their family. For others, it's not being able to visit an elderly loved one.

The flow on effects for many small businesses are already being felt, with the ramifications of heightened social isolation measures expected to hit even harder.

On Saturday, Premier Peter Gutwein's message was very clear: if you don't need to go out, don't.

But we must also remind ourselves to remain positive. If you are not OK, speak out. If you are concerned about someone, check in.

These might be uncertain times, but often even the smallest gestures can make a big difference - even if made from afar.