Teen’s Covid-19 quarantine breach to visit supermarket sparks Delta scare

A teenager who breached home quarantine to visit the local supermarket with a relative has the deadly Delta strain, authorities have confirmed.

A teenager confirmed to have the Delta variant has sparked a Covid-19 scare in Tasmania after leaving home quarantine to go to the supermarket.

The 15-year-old was isolating with family members when he left to visit the IGA Xpress at Newnham in Launceston with a relative on Saturday afternoon.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that the boy tested positive with the Delta strain.

Acting Premier Jeremy Rockliff urged all Launceston residents to monitor for symptoms and seek immediate testing if they present, no matter how mild.

The George Town St store has been listed as an exposure site and anyone who visited the business between 2.20pm and 2.45pm on October 2 must remain in isolation and get retested on days one and five.

Authorises are yet to determine if they need to complete 14 days of quarantine.

The IGA in Newnham has been listed as an exposure site after being visited by 15-year-old who tested positive to Covid-19. Picture: Rosemary Murphy

Despite being listed as an exposure site, the store posed no ongoing risk, Mr Rockliff said.

He said there had so far been 17 close contacts, including family members, those on-board Virgin Australia flight VA 1364 and airport staff, and all are in quarantine.

It was revealed two people visited the boy’s family home on Friday night while he was infectious.

There were also 35 casual contacts identified.

Director of public health Mark Veitch said it was likely that a close contact of the boy would also test positive. Picture: Chris Kidd

Director of public health Mark Veitch said there was a “high” likelihood that a close contact would test positive in coming days.

“I would not be surprised if we get another case with more testing,” he said.

So far nine close contacts have returned negative tests.

An additional 12 wastewater catchments in Launceston and surrounding areas will be monitored for the next two weeks.

The boy was moved to the Fountainside quarantine hotel in Hobart where he is completing quarantine with his father.

The Tasmanian resident was granted an exemption to travel from Covid-riddled Victoria to his home state under strict quarantine provisions.

He flew from Melbourne on October 1.

The boy was transferred to the Fountainside Hotel in Hobart with his father to complete his two weeks of quarantine. Picture: Luke Bowden

Originally published as Teen’s Covid-19 quarantine breach to visit supermarket sparks Delta scare