Public Health services are working to trace more than 140 people on board Virgin flight VA-1368, who could have come in contact with a man diagnosed with coronavirus in Tasmania.
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The 40-year-old remained in a stable condition in isolation at the Launceston General Hospital as of Tuesday evening.
He arrived in Launceston on Saturday after travelling from Iran, via Malaysia and Melbourne, a day before a national ban for foreign travellers arriving from Iran came into place.
On Tuesday Deputy Director of Public Health Dr Scott McKeown said Public Health services had received about 30 calls overnight for people requiring further assessment.
"Today as a result we have been contacting and tracing more than 140 people that were on that flight," he said.
"Particularly focusing on 15 people who had the closest contact with the confirmed case on that flight."
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Dr McKeown said the people with the highest risk of contracting the virus were those who sat in the two rows in front and behind where the man was sitting.
He said a number of initial tests had been completed on Tuesday, with results expected in the next 24 to 48 hours.
As of Tuesday, 50 tests for coronavirus had been completed on 48 people in Tasmania.
Meanwhile, in Parliament on Tuesday Health Minister Sarah Courtney maintained efforts to stop further cases of coronavirus from getting into Tasmania were a priority of the government.
Drawing on the state's experience of dealing with the swine flu pandemic of 2009, she said community-based clinics and negative pressure rooms in hospitals would again be measures used to deal with any escalation of coronavirus in the state.
"These experiences from a decade ago resulted in system-wide planning and established protocols that allow us to effectively respond to any emerging threats by infectious outbreaks - including coronavirus."
She said the government was also examining hospital capacity and how to best manage patients requiring acute care.
"This planning has involved private hospitals, aged care as well as primary health, so we have a collaborative response across Tasmania," she said.
Anyone on flight VA-1368 Melbourne to Launceston on Saturday who is feeling unwell should contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
Public Health advice
- Everyone in Tasmania is encouraged to prevent the spread of germs every day by using good hygiene practices.
- Protect yourself and others: wash your hands thoroughly and often and after using of tissues stay at home if you were feeling unwell.
- Cover sneezes and coughs with tissues or your elbow.
- Face masks are not recommended for use by the general public to prevent illnesses.
- Anyone with concerns or further questions to call the Public Health Hotline helpline on 1800 671 738.
Tasmanian Department of Health updates can be found online here.