Recovery going ‘well’ for Tas man

THE Launceston man carrying Tasmania’s first confirmed case of the COVID-19 coronavirus is “really well” and living life as normal while in quarantine.

The 40-year-old flew into Launceston on Saturday via Malaysia and Melbourne from Iran, a recent hotbed for the virus.

Infectious disease specialist at Launceston General Hospital professor Katie Flanagan said the man was “pretty much asymptomatic now”.

“On a precautionary basis, we’re keeping him in the hospital to make sure that he has cleared the virus completely, so we’ll be testing him every day,” she said.

“This particular man has been fairly well the whole time and hasn’t needed any extra medical care other than just observation and a little bit of support because this has been very stressful for him.”

Professor Flanagan said the man had just been eating and drinking as normal while “leading his normal life” and working from his room.

She said there was no suggestion the man has passed the virus on to others in the community.

“We have done some very thorough screening and quarantining of people to make sure that that’s the case.”

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the 15 people in close contact with the man on the flight had been identified and provided with the appropriate advice.

Professor Flanagan said she saw no reason for anyone in the community to be concerned.

“They just need to carry on their normal life right now, because this guy is not going to be putting anyone else at risk that we haven’t already identified, screened or quarantined,” she said.

There had been 82 tests for COVID-19 carried out in Tasmania as of yesterday.