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A FEDERAL stimulus package to stave off a coronavirus-led recession will allow 190,000 eligible Tasmanians access to $750 cash payments.

Tax benefits will be made available to 60,000 Tasmanian businesses and employers of apprentices will receive wage subsidies.

HEALTH Minister Sarah Courtney has assured Tasmanians the risk of contracting coronavirus from casual contact remains low and uged everyone to get on with life as normal.

Ms Courtney addressed media yesterday, following the announcement of Tasmania’s third confirmed case of the deadly disease reaching the state.

A 30-year-old woman who travelled from South America and arrived in Hobart on a Jetstar flight from Sydney was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Ms Courtney gave details of the case on commercial radio station Triple M yesterday morning, including that the woman had flown in from overseas, hours before the information was released to the broader community.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch gave an update later in the morning.

“That was the only information I had verified at that time,” she said. “I wanted to, with regard to the line of questioning, I wanted to reassure Tasmanians.

“I know that there is community concern and that is why I wanted to make sure that Tasmanians were reassured that this was not a local transmission, and the Director of Public Health came out following that and provided a full update.”

Ms Courtney said the fact the case was not transmitted locally was reassuring for Tasmanians.

“We will continue to make sure that we are interviewing her, seeking further information so that we can contact all those close contacts.

“We have not had community transmission.”

The woman contacted the public health line herself and self-quarantined.

Ms Courtney said the state was well-prepared for more cases to arise in Tasmania, but urged the public to stay vigilant.

There are now three coronavirus testing clinics set up, in Launceston, Hobart and on the North West Coast. A fourth was expected to open at the Mersey Hospital today.

In the wake of the announcement Hobart’s inner city winter festival Dark Mofo would not run this year due to virus fears, the government has encouraged other events to take its place.

Ms Courtney said the move was appropriate, despite other states discouraging large public gatherings.

“It’s important to remain vigilant, but … the risk is low from casual contact,” she said.