Media release – Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, Public Health Services, 9 December 2020
Coronavirus update
Three people who returned to Australia from overseas as part of the international repatriation of Australians have tested positive to COVID-19 while in mandatory hotel quarantine in Hobart.
The woman and two children are from the same family and arrived on the repatriation flight from Delhi on Sunday 6 December 2020.
The positive results were received last night by Public Health officials as part of routine testing being done in all international quarantine hotels.
Because of the age of the children, the family has been moved by ambulance to the Royal Hobart Hospital so that further clinical assessment can be undertaken
They are being cared for in isolation at the Royal Hobart Hospital and all appropriate infection prevention and control measures are in place to protect staff and other patients.
No staff involved in the arrival, transport or quarantine of the family have been required to isolate, as Public Health advice is that all interactions have been in accordance with the infection prevention and control protocols.
Tasmania is playing an important role by helping stranded Australians return as soon as feasible. We have had extensive negotiations with the Australian Government to ensure we have the appropriate resources and support in place to protect the health and safety of Tasmanians as we undertake this role.
We previously indicated that there would likely be cases of COVID-19 in quarantine because of the risk of infection among Australians returning from international destinations. This is why we have such a robust quarantine program in place. Detecting cases means our systems are working.
Since the arrival of the flight on Sunday, all 118 returned travellers have had their first COVID test with 91 results returned to date.
The advice for all Tasmanians remains to be aware of symptoms and to be tested for coronavirus if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms.
Any Tasmanian with cold or flu-like symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose, or fever should contact their GP or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange testing for coronavirus.
Tasmania has recorded a total of 231 cases.
The situation with coronavirus is changing frequently. People can stay up to date by visiting the coronavirus website www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au
Statement – Dr Helen McArdle, President of Australian Medical Association Tasmania, 9 December 2020
This pandemic is not over, and COVID-19 remains a real risk in Tasmania.
We now have COVID-19 back on Tasmanian soil with three overseas travellers testing positive to the virus while in hotel quarantine.
There is no need to be alarmed, but there is a real need to be very much alert to the increased risk of COVID entering our community.
Complacency and a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude are our biggest enemy.
The best defence the community can take to this threat is to maintain social distancing and regular hand sanitising.
Our members are worried about the potential of a community outbreak.
We are confident that the government has learnt from the North West, Victorian and South Australian experiences and implemented more robust measures to hotel quarantine to try to limit the risk. However, there is always a risk that this vigorous, highly infectious virus could get out.
Tasmania needs to do our share in bringing Australians home, but this must be underpinned by the maintaining of the highest of standards by government and the community.
This is a ‘test’ for our state and one which if we work together, we are confident we can help to pass especially as we have been living in a community that has been open with very little restrictions for an extended period.
For this exercise to work best we rely on several factors; firstly, that the government has learnt from other states as well as own our north-west outbreak, secondly that the community remains vigilant in our social distancing and steadfast in our hand hygiene, and finally contact tracing and testing.
