Tasmanians Warned Against Virus Complacency

Tasmanians Warned Against Virus Complacency
Tasmanian Premiere Peter Gutwein, March 13, 2020. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
AAP
By AAP
5/2/2020
Updated:
5/3/2020

Tasmania has recorded no new COVID-19 cases for another day, but Health Minister Sarah Courtney says that is not enough to ease restrictions just yet.

She told reporters on May 3 that while the latest results are encouraging, it is no reason for complacency and urged people to stay at home unless going out for essential reasons.

“We know in other countries we have seen second waves which have had devastating consequences,” she said.

“So please I ask all Tasmanians, while this is very encouraging, we cannot be complacent and we must continue to ensure we are complying with all the measures.

“Restrictions remain across Tasmania and police are going to monitor those.”

Twelve of Tasmania’s 13 COVID-19 deaths have been in the northwest, and two-thirds of an overall 221 cases have come from the outbreak in the region.

But Premier Peter Gutwein said on May 2 that with the northwest outbreak under control, the tighter restrictions there would be eased from May 4.

Overall, Courtney said as of April 3 there had been 221 confirmed cases, 158 of those people had recovered.