The Tasmanian Government’s number one priority is to keep Tasmanians safe and secure, and confirmation yesterday of a positive case of COVID-19 in hotel quarantine in Launceston is another important reminder that this pandemic is not over.
Work has continued overnight on contacting people who may have come into contact with the 31-year-old man, who has since left the State and returned to New South Wales.
Our hard-working contact tracing teams have identified more than 160 people in that category, including around 100 on the Melbourne to Launceston flight the man travelled on the 2nd of August.
All contacts are being required to undertake testing, and depending on their circumstances and risk assessment, may be required to quarantine for up to 14 days from the time of their contact with the case.
Pleasingly, there were a record 1643 tests conducted yesterday and overnight, with all test results coming back negative to date. This includes occupants on the same floor in the quarantine hotel where the man stayed, as well as staff working at the hotel who undergo daily saliva testing and weekly PCR testing as part of our requirements for those working at hotel quarantine facilities. We understand more than 90 per cent of those workers have also been vaccinated.
All contacts have been sent either a text or email providing them with the necessary information and our contact tracers have already interviewed the majority.
Testing will continue today and tomorrow and we will continue to keep Tasmanians updated as more test results come in.
This has once again confirmed the importance of our vaccination program, and earlier this week we reached a major milestone, with 50 per cent of eligible Tasmanians now having received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine – a fantastic effort.
We need to continue to encourage as many eligible Tasmanians as possible to safeguard themselves against the virus, and I’m very pleased that pharmacies will join the Tasmanian roll out, with up to 26 to come on board this month.
There will be pharmacies in Burnie, Devonport, Ulverstone, Latrobe, Legana, Riverside, Risdon Vale and Sorell, with the first group of 11 to join the roll out on August 16, with up to an additional 15 later in the month.
All Tasmanians have a role to play in doing the right thing by keeping up their COVID-safe behaviours so we can keep our community safe.
Please, continue to cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands and sanitise them regularly, remember appropriate social distancing, use the check-in Tas App at venues to help with contact tracing, stay home if you’re unwell, and don’t hesitate to get a test – even if you have mild symptoms