Media release – Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, 15 November 2021

Contacts of case being assessed

Public Health is currently assessing a number of people who have been identified as being potentially exposed to the COVID-19 case who arrived in Hobart from Brisbane on Sunday 14 November 2021.

Public Health is working to identify who will be considered a primary or casual contact.

Following further information collected today, the following exposure sites have been updated and listed:

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.

If you were at these locations you must quarantine immediately, get a COVID-19 test and stay in quarantine for at least 14 days from the date of exposure.

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.

If you were at these locations during the exposure period, you must quarantine immediately and get a COVID-19 test on or after day 5 following your exposure. On receiving a negative result, you will be able to leave quarantine.

Anyone else who was in the Hobart Airport terminal between 12.15pm to 14.45pm on 14 November 2021 does not need to isolate but should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if symptoms develop.

The list of exposure sites is available on coronavirus website (www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au).

If you were at any of the exposure sites at the specified dates and times and have not been contacted by Public Health, quarantine immediately and call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 for further advice.

Direct advice will be given to contacts on requirements and timing for testing.

The case, who is well and fully cooperative, was safely transported to the Fountainside Community Case Management facility yesterday by Ambulance under COVID transfer protocols.

He had been wearing a mask while on the plane and at the airport.

The case had arrived in Brisbane from Victoria and was tested but left Brisbane prior to receiving his test results.

He intended to return to Victoria by transiting through Tasmania.

Queensland authorities alerted Public Health to his positive test while he was at the airport.

He was located in the terminal and isolated immediately from other members of the public.

The risk to other people at the airport is low but we are taking the appropriate precautions to minimise the chance of further cases.