NWHHS chief executive Karen Murphy and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health executive director Christine Mann addressed the region through a Facebook video on Wednesday March 25, announcing the closure effective from midnight.

While there remains no COVID-19 cases in the North West, Ms Murphy said the closure of all North West Hospitals was essential to the Prime Minister's virus requirements.

"So as you are all aware we are in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic and all of the staff and supporting organisations associated with NWHHS have been working very hard behind the scenes in the last 3-4 weeks, to make sure what we are doing here is protecting you as the public," Ms Murphy said.

"One of the things that we need to talk about is that we are going to be closing the doors of the hospital to people who are here unnecessarily from midnight tonight (March 25).

"As you know the Prime Minister has said that we need to reduce and restrict all movements of people to keep us safe from this virus. The best way of doing that for us, in all our hospital sites, is to actually have a front door check."

Ms Murphy said patients that need to be seen by doctors and nurses urgently would still be allowed in but there is a process for that to happen.

"We ask for you to consider, if you are hoping to attend a hospital or health service site with a family member or friend or relative, we need to ask you not to do that," she said.

"Unless your family member or friend needs to have you there with them or you're the parent of children that you need to accompany, we will not be able to let you in to the hospital.

"We want you to be patient with us when we are asking you questions at the front door because we need to keep you and our staff safe from this virus."

Ms Mann said not everyone had access to social media so encouraged locals to spread the message.

"We are needing to rely on all our channels of communication, so please share this message that Dr Murphy has shared, get it out to the elderly, the homeless brothers and sisters and anyone you think that needs to know this information," Ms Mann said.

READ MORE: 40 people tested for COVID-19 in North West, all negative.

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