Media release – Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, 26 May 2021

Victorian COVID-19 cases

Victoria has today announced further confirmed COVID-19 cases in that state, linked to other cases in the Whittlesea area north of Melbourne.

There are now a large number of premises deemed to be high risk in relation to this outbreak. A list of these premises is at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travelalert. Anyone who has recently been in Melbourne is reminded to monitor this list to check if they have been at any of these premises. This list is likely to be updated regularly.

If anyone currently in Tasmania has been at any of these high-risk premises at the specified dates and times, they should immediately self-isolate and contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to organise testing. These people need to remain in isolation until advised by Public Health Services.

Anyone intending to travel to Tasmania who has been to any of these premises, or has been in the City of Whittlesea in the past 14 days, will not be permitted to enter the state unless approved as an Essential Traveller.

Any affected travellers will need to apply to the Deputy State Controller to enter the state via the G2G PASS system. If allowed to enter they will be required to quarantine for 14 days and be tested in the first few days and last few days of this period. Hotel quarantine fees may apply.

Victorian health authorities have advised that one of the COVID-19 cases confirmed in the past few days attended an AFL game at the MCG on Sunday 23 May between Collingwood and Port Adelaide.

If anyone now in Tasmania attended that game, they should monitor themselves for symptoms, particularly in the coming few days, and if they develop any cold or flu like symptoms they should self-isolate and contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

Anyone who attended that game and was seated in Zone 4, Level 1 of the Great Southern Stand – with a bay between M1 and M16 on their match ticket – should self-isolate immediately and contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 for further advice.

The City of Whittlesea local government area has been designated by the Tasmanian Director of Public Health as a high-risk area. Anyone now in Tasmania who was in the City of Whittlesea LGA on or after 6 May should self-isolate until they obtain a negative test for COVID-19. Testing can be arranged by contacting the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

Anyone who has been in Melbourne since 6 May and who is now in Tasmania should monitor themselves for any symptoms. If they develop any cold or flu symptoms, they should immediately isolate and get tested for COVID-19.

If you have any cold or flu symptoms, even mild, contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange a test.

Visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au for the latest Tasmanian information.