More details revealed about Tassie’s new COVID-19 case

Tasmania should expect to see more positive COVID-19 cases in quarantine, Premier Peter Gutwein says, after the first case for the state in 66 days was confirmed. RE-WATCH THE PREMIER’S ADDRESS HERE + READ THE LATEST >>

• Premier under pressure to reveal border plans
• Tassie’s first coronavirus case in 66 days confirmed

A YOUNG Tasmanian woman infected with coronavirus is in a stable condition in hospital, as authorities ramp up testing regimes in quarantine hotels.

The woman was in hotel quarantine after returning from Victoria last week and has since moved to hospital, but authorities will not say which hotel she is in.

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Acting Director of Public Health Scott McKeown said on Tuesday morning there was no current evidence of breaches of hotel quarantine, and that the risk of spread to guests, staff and the wider community was low.

Premier Peter Gutwein said Tasmania should expect to see more positive COVID-19 cases in quarantine after the first case for the state in 66 days was confirmed.

Mr Gutwein this morning addressed the state after a woman tested positive to COVID-19 in hotel quarantine in Hobart yesterday.

Watch the livestream via the Mercury Facebook page and below.

Posted by The Mercury Newspaper on Monday, 20 July 2020

Dr McKeown said the Public Health Services were conducting contact tracing when he confirmed the case last night.

The latest case — the first in 66 days — brings the State’s total to 227 cases.

The Tasmanian Government will be "strongly recommending" people get tested while in hotel quarantine, but won't mandate it. https://t.co/xidTqjknZr #politas #covid19tas

— Navarone Farrell (@navaronefarrell) July 21, 2020

It comes as a new approach to testing of people in hotel quarantine is adopted, with people now being strongly encouraged to be tested on day 5 and day 12 of their quarantine.

However, the testing is not mandatory.

“The case is a very timely reminder to all Tasmanians, that despite having no evidence of the virus for a considerable period of time, the threat of COVID still remains,’’ Dr McKeown said.

“We all need to continue to remain cautious and vigilant.”

Mr Gutwein is expected to provide an update on plans for the state’s border restrictions this Friday.

Dr McKeown would not say which flight the woman arrived into Tasmania on, but said she was not infectious on the flight.

He said as a precaution, guests within the hotel would be checked for symptoms and contacted for testing.

Dr McKeown and Premier Peter Gutwein both wished the woman a speedy recovery.

Mr Gutwein said it was “a given” that new cases will be detected in the state, but he said it was reassuring that the latest case was picked up in a quarantine hotel.

“The fact this person was picked up in quarantine indicates our quarantine hotel system is working,’’ he said.

“Importantly, our very tough border restrictions we have in place are important to ensure we continue to protect the health and safety of Tasmanians.”

There are currently about 700 people in quarantine in nine hotels around the state.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly.

People with coronavirus may experience:

• fever
• symptoms such as coughing, a sore throat and fatigue
• shortness of breath

People with severe illness may have difficulty breathing, which is a sign of pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention.

It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to show after a person has been infected.