Health
What can Victoria learn from Tasmania’s handling of its coronavirus outbreak? – ABC News
As Melbourne grapples with daily triple-figure rises in coronavirus cases, experts are referring to how Tasmania dealt with its deadly COVID-19 outbreak in April. So what lessons were learnt?
As millions of people in greater Melbourne cope with a renewed lockdown and escalating COVID-19 cases, residents of Tasmania’s north-west would have a fairly good idea of how they’re feeling.
Key points:
- Tasmania faced a COVID-19 outbreak in a regional hospital in April
- Victorian health authorities are following a similar response model in Greater Melbourne
- Experts warn the outbreak response must be adapted to suit the local community
The region endured weeks of lockdown under what were at the time Australia’s strictest restrictions, after an outbreak in a Burnie hospital.
The outbreak grew to 131 COVID-19 cases, was associated with a dozen deaths and forced the closure of two hospitals.
It sent more than 1,000 health care workers and thousands more close contacts into quarantine, before it was brought under control.
So can Victorians trying to respond to the current outbreak learn anything from the Tasmanian experience?
How similar are the Tasmanian and Victorian outbreaks?
Defence Force personnel were brought into to help run the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie.(Supplied: ADF/Cpl Nicci Freeman)
The north-west Tasmanian outbreak began in a hospital and mainly affected healthcare workers and patients, and their close contacts.
Professor Raina MacIntyre from the University of New South Wales says the Melbourne outbreak is different because it’s being driven primarily by community transmission.
“Because
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