Victims showed symptoms before returning to state

UPDATED: All three new cases of coronavirus were contracted overseas, with the victims showing symptoms before arriving in the country.

THERE is still no evidence of community transmission of coronavirus in Tasmania, the state’s public health director has assured, as new details were revealed about the movements of our three most recent confirmed cases.

A woman in her 40s and two men also in their 40s were diagnosed on Wednesday after being tested the day before.

All had arrived in Hobart on Sunday.

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The woman had been in the United Kingdom, while the two men, who were separate to the woman, had travelled through several European countries.

It is not known if the three people are Tasmanian residents.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said the cases had contracted the virus overseas and had started feeling unwell during their travel to Australia.

“The incubation period of coronavirus infection is usually about five days. These people had symptoms as they flew into Australia, so it’s likely they were infected a few days before they left the countries overseas,’’ he said.

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Dr Veitch said despite self-isolation measures not being introduced at that stage, all three immediately stayed away from public places after arriving in Tasmania.

He said that was a “very thoughtful” and considerate thing for the people to do.

“We had three cases of coronavirus diagnosed and reported to Public Health [on Wednesday] afternoon making the total number of cases in Tasmania in 10,” Dr Veitch said.

“All three of them arrived in Tasmania on March 15, even though that was before the time self-isolation was required from people, they did all self-isolate immediately upon arriving in Tasmania.

“They were tested on Tuesday and the results came through on Wednesday.

“It should be reassuring to the public that there is virtually no risk to the public from these three cases because there was no community exposure from any of these three people in Tasmania.

“However, we will be following up two air flights that arrived in Hobart on Sunday to get in touch with the close contacts of the people seated two rows in front of and two rows behind these cases.”

The Public Health Service will be contacting close contacts, who were sitting two rows in front and behind the three on their flights into the state.

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Dr Veitch said the three cases were in a stable condition and were being clinically assessed while self-isolating in their homes.

Tasmania has 10 confirmed cases of coronavirus but Dr Veitch would not speculate when asked if the actual number could be much higher.

“I think it’s always better to look at where we are rather than try and guess exactly where we’ll get to,’’ he said.

“There may be cases when coronavirus infection is established in a particular place and you don’t pick them up because [the symptoms] are so mild.

“But we will get a good picture of the epidemic from the people who are ill enough to need to be tested.

“We have some models of where an epidemic might go, but there’s a lot of uncertainty about that, about exactly how many cases we’ll end up with.”

As of Thursday morning, more than 700 tests had been conducted in Tasmania with 10 people having tested positive.