Man hospitalised with respiratory symptoms cleared of coronavirus

UPDATED: A Hobart man in his 30s has been cleared of coronavirus after being tested for the deadly illness. He had travelled to Wuhan, China earlier this month.

Masks at Sydney Airport. People Wearing Masks due to Coronavirus walk out of Customs after arriving in Sydney from Shanghai this afternoon. Picture: CHRIS PAVLICH

UPDATE:

A HOBART man who was tested for coronavirus has received his results, testing negative for the deadly virus which has killed more than 40 people overseas.

The man, in his 30s, was in Wuhan, China earlier this month, which was the origin of the outbreak of the virus.

“The man, who contacted a GP after feeling unwell, was admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital yesterday while tests were conducted to rule out coronavirus,” Director of Public Health, Dr Mark Veitch said.

“Those tests have returned a negative result.

“Further testing at the RHH detected two common respiratory viruses which explained his sypmtoms.

“The man has been discharged from the RHH.”

EARLIER:

A HOBART man in his 30s is being tested for coronavirus after travelling to China earlier this month, spending time in Wuhan where the outbreak began.

The man, in his 30s, has been admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Director of Public Health, Dr Mark Veitch, said he was being tested to rule out coronavirus infection.

“The man travelled in China earlier this month and spent time in Hubei province and Wuhan,

the city where the coronavirus outbreak began,’’ Dr Veitch said.

“The man has relatively mild respiratory symptoms. While coronavirus infection is not strongly suspected, tests are being done to rule out this infection.

“The man rang ahead to a local GP, seeking advice about his symptoms.

“The GP contacted Public Health Services and a decision to test for coronavirus was made in consultation with specialist infectious disease advice.”

Dr Veitch said the man’s contacts since his return to Hobart will be identified in case further follow-up is needed.

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“Test results are expected within the next day or so, and the man will remain admitted and managed in a negative-pressure room with appropriate infection prevention and control precautions in accordance with national guidelines until these are obtained,’’ he said.

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