Search hots up for flight passengers
HEALTH officials are attempting to track down passengers who flew into Tasmania on the same aircraft as a man who has been diagnosed with the state’s first case of coronavirus.
Fifty people have been tested statewide, with one positive test.
A 40-year-old man is being treated in Launceston General Hospital after arriving on a Virgin flight from Melbourne early on Saturday afternoon. He remains in a stable condition.
Premier Peter Gutwein updated State Parliament yesterday on the Government’s response to the disease, including the activation of the State Emergency Management Committee.
He said cabinet and MPs had also been given briefings by the state’s top health and emergency management officials.
“I am advised this was a 40year-old man arrived in Tasmania on Saturday from Iran, having left that country before the travel ban was instigated,” he said.
“He was experiencing mild symptoms and contacted the public health hotline, and testing was arranged with confirmation from those tests received yesterday.
“The man had been in selfquarantine but has now been transferred to the Launceston General Hospital, where he will be clinically managed and supported as appropriate.”
Mr Gutwein said health authorities were working to find and quarantine anyone who had been in contact with the man in the days before he was diagnosed.
“The flight into Launceston has been identified and public health services are in the process of contacting passengers on the flight as part of the response to the positive case,” he said.
“Any other close contacts are being identified and being asked to remain in self-quarantine for 14 days.
“It is critically important to stress that despite the confirmation of a positive case in the state, Tasmanians remain at low risk of coronavirus.”
Mr Gutwein said the state had activated its emergency response arrangements on top of steps already taken to ensure the impact of the virus was managed and contained.
“The impacts of coronavirus are felt across a number of agencies, which is why my department has been co-ordinating a whole-of-government response,” he said.
“Across health, education, tourism and trade, agencies have been working together to minimise and manage the impacts of coronavirus on Tasmania.
“This includes a decision to stand up the Emergency Management Committee from March 2 to ensure Tasmania continues to be well prepared and we continue to keep our community safe.”
Health Minister Sarah Courtney said there was no cause for alarm.
“I want all Tasmanians to feel confident that the state’s health authorities are ... being proactive and we are prepared for the impact of coronavirus in Tasmania,” she told parliament. “Our health officials are meeting daily and working with interstate and national counterparts to monitor this preparation and be able to flexibly respond to whatever challenges this virus brings us.
“The Tasmanian Government is also examining our public hospital capacity and how we can best and most safely accommodate those patients that do require acute care,” she said.