Dr Kim Dobromilsky says Huon maternity ward staff tested positive for coronavirus

Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr Kim Dobromilsky made a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon informing her clients, expectant mothers and their families, cases had been reported in the Huon ward.

She said the impending closure of the hospitals was therefore a "welcomed and decisive response".

"Staff who work in the Huon Maternity Ward have now tested positive to Covid," the post read.

"Dr Kim will personally contact all her pregnant patients over 28 weeks gestation in the next 24 hours and they will be given her direct mobile number.

"Initially, private patients due to deliver in the next 2 weeks will be referred to a trusted colleague (private obstetrician) in Launceston for a delivery at the LGH.

"You will be contacted individually this evening to arrange this. We suggest you do not go to the emergency department unless you have a life threatening emergency."

The Advocate spoke to Dr Dobromilsky shortly after the post was made, and she said pregnant women who go into labour this evening are still advised to attend the North West Private Hospital.

The doctor said she understood multiple maternity ward staff had tested positive in the last 24 hours.

A spokesperson for the Tasmanian Health Service said they could not confirm the claims and would not comment on individual cases.

Previously, the health department had advised the maternity ward was free from any contact with the outbreak at the hospital.

On Thursday, Chief Medical Officer Tony Lawler said the maternity ward "had not been compromised".

"It has been assured to me today that the staff member at the NWPH had no contact with maternity services," Dr Lawler said.

"The Secretary [of the Department of Health] was very clear in strenuously outlining to the chief executive at the NWPH that there was to be no mixing of staff."