250 contacts identified after Tasmania Covid case

More exposure sites have been identified by Public Health after a man who tested positive to Covid potentially came into contact with 250 people after flying into Hobart yesterday. LATEST >>

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TASMANIAN health authorities have identified about 250 people who came in contact with a Covid positive man who flew into Hobart on Sunday.

Premier Peter Gutwein said he was allowed to travel while awaiting the result of a Covid test undertaken while he was in a hotel quarantine in Brisbane.

“They released him, he didn’t flee quarantine and they released him to return to Victoria, unfortunately the flight that he chose came via Tasmania,” he said.

“It’s a situation that obviously we would not like to see occur again and it seems a little strange that in this case whilst he was in a quarantine hotel, waiting on the result of a test he was put on a plane.”

Mr Gutwein said the contacts were 100 people on the flight with the man and the additional contacts were from the terminal, including 17 biosecurity staff, four health screening staff and two police officers.

On Monday afternoon Public Health said anyone on Sunday’s Virgin flight VA 702 from Brisbane to Hobart that was seated in rows 10 to 14 is a primary close contact and have been advised to quarantine immediately, get a COVID-19 test, and stay in quarantine for at least 14 days.

Those who were in the male toilets in the Hobart Airport departures terminal near Gate 5 between 1.56pm to 2.02pm on Sunday or at wooden bench seats adjacent to Gate 4 departures between 12.59pm and 14.23pm have also been identified as close contacts.

The remainder of those on Virgin flight VA 702 are listed as casual contacts, as well as those at the same male toilets between 1.30pm and 1.33pm.

Casual contacts are asked to quarantine immediately, get a COVID-19 test on or after day five from the exposure date.

Outside of those exposure sites, anyone at the Hobart Airport Terminal between 12.15pm and 2.45pm is not required to quarantine, but should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if symptoms develop.

Mr Gutwein said Queensland Health notified Tasmania Public Health about the positive result while the infected man was in the Hobart terminal and he was co-operating fully with public health authorities.

“What we understand is that the case didn’t leave the airport,” he said.

“He was identified quickly, placed into an isolated room at the hotel and then transferred to Fountainside quarantine.”

The last positive case in the state was NSW man Tim Gunn who is alleged to have arrived in Tasmania without approval and fled quarantine at the Travelodge Hotel, prompting a three day snap lockdown in state’s south in October.

Mr Gutwein maintained the state was ready for borders to reopen on December 15 and urged all Tasmanians to get vaccinated.

Exposure sites

Primary close contacts

• Virgin flight VA702, from 8.38am to 12.15pm on 14 November, rows 10-14
• Male toilets in Departures, (near gate 5) Hobart Airport Terminal, from 1.56pm to 2.02pm on 14 November, and
• Wooden bench seats adjacent to Gate 4 Departures, Hobart Airport Terminal 12.59pm -14.23pm

Casual contacts

• Male toilets in Departures, Hobart Airport Terminal, from 1.30pm to 1.33pm on 14 November, and· Virgin flight VA702, from 8.38am to 12.15pm on 14 November, all flight except rows 10-14

New Covid case confirmed in Tasmania

A NEW case of Covid has been confirmed in Tasmania, with an infected man arriving on a Virgin flight from Brisbane on Sunday.

The Department of Health said a Victorian man had intended to transit to Melbourne via Hobart without leaving the airport.

However, he was not permitted to board the flight after Tasmanian authorities were advised he’d returned a positive result on a test conducted in Brisbane.

The man was taken directly to the Fountainside quarantine hotel facility.

Passengers on Virgin flight VA702 from Brisbane to Hobart, which arrived about 12.15pm on Sunday, have been asked to isolate immediately and phone the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

Additionally, anyone in the Hobart Airport terminal on Sunday between 12.15pm and 2.45pm have also been asked to isolate and contact the hotline.

Public Health will also be in contact with passengers on the flight and those who’ve used the check-in app.

Any additional exposure sites will advised as soon as details are confirmed.

Tasmania has not had an active Covid case since the arrival of Tim Gunn, a NSW man who allegedly arrived in Tasmania without approval and then snuck away from quarantine at the TraveLodge Hotel on October 11.

Mr Gunn’s alleged actions sparked a three-day snap lockdown across the south of the state.

Prior to that, a 15-year-old Launceston boy was confirmed to have the virus, sparking outrage when he breached home quarantine to visit his local IGA and had visitors at his residence on October 2.

To date, Tasmania has had 237 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, and 13 deaths.

The state is just a month away from reopening its borders on December 15, after which it will welcome anyone arriving from interstate who is fully vaccinated and returns a negative test within 72 hours of travel.

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