Quarantine breach set for review

THE state government is reviewing a hotel quarantine breach where a woman left a Hobart CBD hotel and travelled with her child in a taxi.

The woman, who had travelled to Tasmania from Victoria, has been fined $774 after the breach occurred at 6.20pm Monday from the Ibis Hotel in Hobart.

They were returned to quarantine by police about 7.40pm.

In response to a question about how secure the quarantine hotels are, Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the matter was being investigated.

“We’re reviewing that matter to understand what has happened … obviously it’s concerning when anyone escapes quarantine,’’ she said.

“It is important to recognise that from a quarantine perspective, these people are not in prison, they are in hotel quarantine, however they have very strong requirements about them.

Ms Courtney said it was critical that everyone in hotel quarantine obeyed the rules.

“I ask people that come to Tasmania to do the right thing,’’ she said.

“We expect people if you come to our state, you will help be a part of keeping our state safe.”

Police on Wednesday reported another case where a 38-year-old woman from Victoria has charged following an incident in hotel quarantine on Sunday.

She was arrested and detained for court where she appeared in Launceston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The woman was directed to return to Victoria and left Tasmania on Tuesday – and is expected to appear in court in Launceston next month.