Tasmanian man becomes tenth to die of coronavirus in the state

A Tasmanian man has become the tenth in the state to die from coronavirus.

The 90-year-old man died yesterday at the Mersey Community Hospital in Latrobe on Tasmania's northwest coast.

He is one of nine deaths to have occurred in the state's northwest region.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein extended "heartfelt sympathies" to family and loved ones.

"To the northwest community, which I know to be a tight-knit community, my thoughts are with you all," he said in a statement.

The man's death takes the national COVID-19 toll to 80.

While the curve of new confirmed COVID-19 cases across the nation appears to be flattening, the nation's chief medical officer has warned that Australia could still be at risk of a second wave of the virus.

Professor Brendan Murphy has told a Senate inquiry into the Federal Government's coronavirus response that authorities are keeping a close eye on Singapore, which initially tracked well but is now dealing with a surge in cases.

"They had a very similar approach to us but they've now had a second wave in their migrant worker population," he said.

"We have to be very, very aware that whilst we've only had seven cases over the last 24 hours, we're in a wonderful position, but there is a permanent risk of further waves.

"This is a highly infectious virus and it can take off fairly quickly."

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