Media release – Dr Scott McKeown, Acting Director of Public Health, 15 July, 2021

COVID-19 update – Victoria

The Acting Director of Public Health will tonight declare Victoria a high-risk area.

This declaration will take effect from midnight tonight.

This decision is in response to increasing risk in Victoria and consistent with Victoria’s decision to commence a five-day lockdown of the state following further confirmed COVID-19 cases today. The declaration will be reviewed regularly.

From midnight, any person who has been in Victoria since 8 July will not be permitted to enter Tasmania unless approved by the Deputy State Controller.

Anyone already in Tasmania who has recently been in Victoria is not required to isolate at this time. However, they must be extremely vigilant in practicing COVID-safe behaviours and monitoring themselves for any symptoms. Should they experience any symptoms, even mildly, they will need to isolate immediately and contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange a test.

Anyone who has recently been in Victoria should check the list of premises that have been classified as high risk. The list is available at https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/coming-to-tasmania/travel-alert.

Anyone who has been to any of these premises at the specified dates and times must self-isolate immediately and call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange a test.

Anyone who has been at any of these high-risk premises at the specified date and time and is intending to travel to Tasmania will not be permitted to enter the State.

People are also reminded check the list of sites in Tasmania attended by a person who tested positive for COVID-19 after leaving the state and arriving in the UK. It is critical that anyone who was at any of these venues self-isolates and contacts the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to get tested. Once anyone who was at any of these Tasmanian sites receive a negative test result, they are no longer required to isolate.

As part of ongoing investigations, to date there is no evidence this person, who tested negative for COVID-19 prior to leaving the state, was infectious while in Tasmania.

If you have any symptoms of a cold or flu, no matter how mild, please get tested for COVID-19 by calling the Public Health Hotline. Testing for COVID-19 gives public health authorities the best chance of detecting cases early enough to prevent an outbreak.

Please use the Check in TAS app whenever you enter a businesses or venues displaying the Check in TAS QR code. This information will be critical for contact tracing if a case occurs in Tasmania.

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