Australian death toll rises after elderly Tasmanian woman dies
An 86-year-old woman has become the 12th person to die from coronavirus in Tasmania.
Premier Peter Gutwein confirmed the woman, who was from the state’s northwest, died on Wednesday, taking the national toll to 91.
“I extend my deepest sympathies to her loved ones, family and friends at this very hard time,” he said on Thursday.
Tasmania is poised to release a report on a deadly coronavirus outbreak in the northwest as staff start to return to work at two hospitals in the region.
Two-thirds of the island’s 219 cases are linked to the virus cluster that forced the closure of Burnie’s hospitals this month after dozens of workers and patients tested positive.
Ten of the state’s 11 virus deaths have been in the northwest.”One thing I have stressed is that we will be accountable, we will be responsible and importantly, we will be transparent,” Premier Peter Gutwein said.
He report will be made public on Thursday morning.
One new case, a female healthcare worker from the region, was confirmed on Wednesday night.
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More than 4000 healthcare staff, patients and their families were forced into quarantine to mitigate the outbreak, which also prompted tough social restrictions in the region.
Mr Gutwein has pledged an independent review of the cluster at a later date.More than 6746 cases have been recorded in Australia but just around 1100 are active.
