Article
Launceston COVID Case
Media release – 4 August 2021
Public Health in Tasmania continues to contact people who may have come into contact with a 31-year-old man who tested positive to COVID-19.
The man who was in hotel quarantine in Launceston returned to Sydney on 4 August before the result of his test was known.
The people include:
- Passengers and crew on Sydney to Melbourne VA808 and Melbourne to Launceston VA1364 flights on Monday 2 August
- Biosecurity, Health and Tasmania Police staff at Launceston airport at the time of his arrival
- The driver of the bus who transported the man to the quarantine hotel
- Staff at the quarantine hotel between Monday 2 and Wednesday 4 August
- Those currently in hotel quarantine and who were in hotel quarantine from 2 August
- A taxi driver who took the man to Launceston airport on 4 August along with a small number of airport staff who assisted the man at the airport.
- Passengers who were at Launceston airport between 9am and 10am on Wednesday 4 August
People on the JQ746 Launceston to Sydney flight on 4 August are also being contacted.
Through this process, the Public Health contact tracing team has identified around 200 people to be contacted, assessed and managed, including around 100 on the Melbourne to Launceston flight on 2 August.
All contacts will be required to undertake testing and, depending on their circumstances and the risk assessment, may be required to quarantine for up to 14 days from the time of their contact with the case.
At the same time, some precautionary measures are being put in place to provide additional protection to Tasmanians in residential aged-care facilities, public and private hospitals, and day-procedure centres.
From midnight tonight, masks must be worn by all persons other than patients admitted to these facilities. This requirement extends to staff, visitors, outpatients and emergency department attendees.
There will also be a daily limit of two visitors for patients in hospital, or residents in residential aged-care. There will be exceptions to this limit, including to enable visits that provide essential support, or at end of life.
The need to continue these measures will be reviewed early next week.
Media release – Peter Gutwein, Premier, 5 August 2021
Contact tracing underway following confirmed case of COVID-19
The Tasmanian Government’s priority is to keep Tasmanians safe and secure.
While we have in place strong measures to protect our community including our border controls, given the COVID-19 outbreaks across Australia, we have been preparing for a case in Tasmania.
Today I can confirm a 31 year old man, who was in hotel quarantine in Launceston, has tested positive to COVID-19 this morning.
This is not a case of community transmission.
The man flew into Launceston on Monday and as he did not have a valid G2G pass upon arrival, he was immediately sent into hotel quarantine, before choosing to leave the State yesterday.
The public health team is now in the process of contacting people who may have come into contact with the man through managed transit corridors, to ask that they isolate immediately and get tested if requested.
At this stage, our advice is that the risk is low, and we will not be proceeding to a broader lockdown.
However, based on the developing situation in Victoria, together with minimising any risk within Launceston, the AFL game between Hawthorn and Collingwood that was scheduled to go ahead on Sunday in Launceston, will not proceed.
While this is no doubt disappointing for many, the safety of Tasmanians and our community will always come first and this is the responsible course of action to protect the community.
I will provide a further update later today in terms of any additional measures as well as further changes to our border restrictions, in light of the escalating situation in Victoria.
This case once again demonstrates the importance of our COVID-Safe measures and I ask Tasmanians to continue to do the right thing.
Cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands and sanitise them regularly, remember appropriate social distancing, use the check-in Tas App at venues to help with contact tracing, stay home if you’re unwell, and don’t hesitate to get a test – even if you have mild symptoms.
Victoria declared high-risk from 8pm tonight
The health, safety and wellbeing of Tasmanians remains our number one priority as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 risk.
A short time ago, it was announced that Victoria will enter a seven day lockdown from 8pm this evening due to its emerging situation of COVID-19 cases in the community.
In response, from 8pm today, Victoria has been declared high-risk Level 2 by Tasmania’s Director of Public Health.
This means that anyone who has spent time in Victoria, will not be permitted to enter Tasmania unless approved as an Essential Traveller or is a returning Tasmanian.
Returning Tasmanians can quarantine at a suitable premises, with the exception being if you’ve been to a high-risk premises you won’t be approved to travel.
For anyone who is already in Tasmania and has been in Victoria in the last 14 days, we ask that you check the list of high-risk premises on the Coronavirus website. If you’ve been to a high-risk premises you will need to isolate immediately and contact the public health hotline on 1800 671 738.
Anyone who been in Victoria in the past 14 days should monitor their symptoms closely, and get tested if they experience even mild symptoms.
Tasmania now has border restrictions in place with a number of States, and our thoughts are with all those affected as they battle to get their outbreaks under control.
I ask Tasmanians to continue to do the right thing.
Cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands and sanitise them regularly, remember appropriate social distancing, use the check-in Tas App at venues to help with contact tracing, stay home if you’re unwell, and don’t hesitate to get a test – even if you have mild symptoms.
Anita Dow MP, Acting Labor Leader, 5 August 2021
Tasmanians must stay vigilant
The detection of a COVID case today is a critical reminder to all Tasmanians to remain vigilant and follow public health advice.
“This is a timely reminder that it’s critical to follow public health advice to keep our community safe,” Acting Labor Leader Anita Dow said.
“That includes continuing to use the Check-In Tas app, practicing social distancing, getting tested if you have any symptoms and scheduling a vaccine appointment.”
Ms Dow thanked Tasmania’s frontline workers for their hard work protecting the state.
“Labor would like to put on the record once again its thanks to Tasmania’s frontline workers and health workforce for their continued hard work and commitment to keeping Tasmanians safe.
“Labor welcomes the re-establishment of briefings from health officials and the premier’s office following our recent request and the very serious outbreaks in other states.
“These briefings provide the opportunity for important information to be shared and most importantly the opportunity for Labor to ask critical questions about the processes and public health orders that are in place to protect Tasmanians.”