Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein says the Chief Medical Officer's claims that the north-west Tasmanian coronavirus outbreak started with a dinner party of health workers are a rumour that will be followed up.

A 91-year-old woman becomes the sixth Tasmanian to die from coronavirus, as the state's overall tally jumps to 165 cases — with all of the new cases known to be from the disease hotspot of the north-west.

Medical staff working in a coronavirus hotspot in Tasmania's north-west say a relaxed attitude towards hand hygiene and social distancing made it a "slow-motion disaster waiting to happen".

As two hospitals close to clean up amid a coronavirus outbreak in Tasmania's north-west, doctors warn there's nothing unique about the region that means similar outbreaks can't happen anywhere else.

More cases of coronavirus are confirmed as being from Tasmania's north-west, on the day Premier Peter Gutwein urges residents with flu-like symptoms to get tested for the deadly disease.

Infection protocols are being checked at three Tasmanian nursing homes after contact tracing reveals a healthcare worker from an infected hospital has also worked shifts at three aged care facilities.

A 72-year-old man becomes the seventh Tasmanian to succumb to coronavirus, as four more cases are confirmed in the north-west. It comes as the emergency department of a hospital at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak reopens.

A man who was a patient at a hospital at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak dies after contracting COVID-19, becoming the second death in two days as RAAF and ADF personnel begin work in the disease-hit region.

Coronavirus has forced some dramatic changes to how the ABC keeps the public informed, from home-based broadcasting to webcam interviews and recruiting people featured in a story to help film it on their mobile phone.

Tasmania records its first coronavirus infection in a nursing home, a 79-year-old woman in the state's cluster zone in the north-west, where cases linked to two hospitals prompted a mass quarantine last week.

Another five coronavirus cases in Tasmania's troubled northwest take the tally to 200, as the Health Minister urges people to remain vigilant.

The widow of a north-west Tasmanian man who died of coronavirus pays tribute to her late-husband, calling him her "soulmate".

Tasmanian woman Sue McCuaig has been diagnosed with stage four brain cancer and wants to choose when she dies, but the coronavirus pandemic has delayed debate on the state's assisted dying legislation.

The number of coronavirus cases associated with an outbreak in Tasmania's north-west is "trailing off", the state's director of public health says, with additional retail restrictions in place in the region due to be lifted on Sunday night.

The Tasmanian Government unveils a $3 million package to support around 26,000 temporary visa holders stuck in the state because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A day after authorities said the coronavirus outbreak in Tasmania may be "trailing off", the tally jumps to 205 with four new cases detected in the past 24 hours — all in the state's north-west.

Australia's Chief Medical Officer says a coronavirus cluster in Tasmania's north-west was likely sparked by a passenger from the Ruby Princess cruise ship, as the state marks 24 hours without a new case being found.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made life on the streets more difficult than ever and despite government promises to help, Lionel says he has been "hearing that for a long time and nothing happens".

Hotel Bruny owner Dave Gunton is helping to feed the island's residents during the coronavirus crisis, as many welcome a return to quieter times of growing vegetables and producing salt from seawater.

Retail restrictions are extended on Tasmania's north-west coast, as the state records its ninth coronavirus death and 207th case of the disease.

Tasmania had one of the strongest responses to COVID-19 in the country. But on the day the two-person gathering rule was adopted, the state's nightmare quietly began.

Tasmania records its 10th coronavirus death and its ninth in the hotspot north-west region, with another health worker case announced late Saturday.

Another elderly person dies from coronavirus in Tasmania's north-west, the state's third death announced in three days, as four new cases are confirmed on Sunday night.

Tasmanian police dismiss allegations, first aired publicly by Australia's Chief Medical Officer, that an "illegal dinner party" of healthcare workers contributed to Tasmania's coronavirus outbreak.

On her country mail run Jocelyn Flint delivers letters, boxes of wine, flat pack queen-size beds, asthma puffers and even biscuits for morning tea and she's a welcome sight in Tasmania's coronavirus hotspot.

Tasmania has four new cases of coronavirus to add to its tally, with three being health workers from the state's disease hotspot of the north-west.

A female healthcare worker "in her 20s" is the latest case of coronavirus confirmed in Tasmania, on the day Australia's Chief Medical Officer apologises for alleging an "illegal dinner party" contributed to the state's outbreak.

An elderly woman becomes the 13th Tasmanian to succumb to coronavirus as the Government rules out an easing of state restrictions.

Key dates in the outbreak which unfolded in two Tasmanian hospitals, according to a report released by Public Health.

Tighter retail restrictions imposed on Tasmania's north-west after a coronavirus outbreak will be lifted on Sunday night, with the situation "largely under control", Premier Peter Gutwein says, as the state records a day free of new cases.

Experts say there's no evidence the weather has an impact on the spread of coronavirus — but with restrictions lifting, what you do when it's hot or cold outside might.

For the fourth day in a row Tasmania records no new cases of coronavirus and announces it will begin to lift restrictions at aged care homes from next Monday.

Ten healthcare workers from the Launceston General Hospital's COVID-19 ward are being tested after their colleague was diagnosed with coronavirus, as the Government reveals cases by municipality.

Italy's ongoing coronavirus problems spill over into the country's top football league, as five Serie A games are postponed until May.

The English Premier League postpones the Manchester City-Arsenal blockbuster "as a precautionary measure" due to the coronavirus outbreak, as Gunners players go into a fortnight of self-isolation.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp issues a blunt warning to fans trying to shake his hand as Serie A team Juventus reveals a player tests positive for COVID-19.

Spain is on a horrifying upward trajectory, having surpassed China in the number of coronavirus cases. Locals are frightened, the health system is under pressure and some experts suspect part of the outbreak may date back to a February soccer match in Italy.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants "to get Australia back to work", and says he's now focused on flattening the unemployment curve and creating a "COVID-safe economy".

France has accused Beijing of concealing facts, while Germany has suggested it could demand compensation.

Stephen Keal was diagnosed with COVID-19 after travelling with his wife onboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship. The hospital asked his family to say their final goodbyes.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is so concerned about the handling of the coronavirus outbreak at Sydney's Newmarch House, it is considering revoking its licence.

The principal of a WA public school who was stood down for urging parents to keep students at home against Education Department advice is reinstated.

Initially postponed due to coronavirus, the deployment of US Marines to the Top End is back on, but questions remain about how many are coming, when they'll arrive or where they'll be treated if any contract COVID-19.

Japan reaches the decision to approve the antiviral medication previously used to treat Ebola patients just three days after the drugmaker filed for approval.

We checked whether every member of Federal Parliament had downloaded the COVIDSafe tracing app. Find out whether your local member has or not.

As most of the world struggles to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, one country which should have been vulnerable is keeping deaths and case numbers extremely low.

Coronavirus has crippled the global tourism industry and in Thailand that means it includes elephants. As a result of the pandemic many elephants are heading back to their natural habitats.

MORNING BRIEFING: The proposed changes allow councils to apply the rate cap more flexibly and comes as local governments suffer financial hardship from the coronavirus pandemic.

Following months of turmoil, including calls by nine former presidents and prime ministers for voters to boycott, the May 10 postal ballot will not go ahead.

Social media posts containing fake quotes from Nobel laureate Tasuku Honjo have spread on Facebook. The posts claimed that Professor Honjo said the novel coronavirus was "manufactured in China".