Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Health spokesperson
Following Victoria’s Chief Medical Officer warning the worldwide spread of coronavirus is now considered “very likely if not inevitable”, the Health Minister must reassure Tasmanians about our state’s preparations if a pandemic pattern of the virus is declared.
Tasmania, and Australia, currently remain in ‘containment’ mode, isolating people who are infectious, and quarantining contacts.
With some 78,000 infected people across 29 countries, however, it is widely anticipated COV19 is on the verge of being declared at pandemic levels by the World Health Organization.
Regardless of when a pandemic declaration may be made, there is as yet no realistic timeframe for a vaccine for the COV19 pneumonia. It is clear that old and young people are among those infected, and there is an increasing return to Australian states of infected people who have travelled overseas.
Minister Courtney needs to publicly release advice about Tasmania's plans and preparations for what appears to be a change in the spread of this virus.