Fifth case of coronavirus confirmed in Tasmania

A person is being treated in hospital after health officials confirmed the state’s fifth case of coronavirus.

A fifth case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Tasmania.

Director of Public Heath Dr Mark Veitch revealed the diagnosis just before 11pm on Friday.

He said the patient had been admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital.

“Further information will be provided once public health officials have been able to complete the necessary investigations and assessments in order to inform the public accurately,” Dr Veitch said.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney and Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

The fifth case comes a day after a woman in her 40s was diagnosed with the virus in Launceston.

The fourth victim of the virus is currently in isolation in accommodation provided by UTAS in Launceston as she is not “unduly unwell”.

Dr Veitch said the woman’s infection was unrelated to the previous cases and is not due to local transmission in Tasmania.

He said the woman travelled to Australia from the Philippines on March 8.

She then boarded Jetstar flight JQ731 from Melbourne to Launceston, which landed about 8.05am on March 9, Dr Veitch said.

Passengers who were seated nearby and a number of other people known to the woman are being contacted and asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Dr Veitch said all other travellers on the flight were at low-risk.

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The state’s other three cases remain in medical care and are also stable.

The Salamanca Market will go ahead on Saturday, but a host of other events and sports matches have been cancelled to contain the spread the virus.

Dr Veitch said a dedicated hotline set up to manage coronavirus in Tasmania had seen a surge in use, with more than 1000 calls recorded on one day alone this week.

But Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the state was adequately prepared.

“We’ve got a range of scenarios that we plan for within the health system,’’ she said.

“There’s been a substantial amount of planning work that has been done, not just across the public system, but also across our private system as well.

“We want to make sure we hope for the best but plan for the worst, and so as a state we’ve got a range of scenarios that we can look to.”

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