Brisbane travellers will continue to be refused entry to Tasmania as a hotel quarantine cluster in Queensland grows.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Providing an update on Wednesday afternoon, Premier Peter Gutwein said there would be no change to restrictions, as Queensland continues to investigate how a cleaner at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Brisbane contracted the UK strain of the coronavirus.
Tasmanians who may have returned from overseas and quarantined in the hotel as far back as December 30 has been urged to immediately self-isolate, and contact public health on 1800 671 738 to arrange testing.
The 129 people currently staying at the hotel are being moved to another hotel and tested before restarting their 14-day quarantine.
IN OTHER NEWS:
It was understood staff at the hotel were also being contacted to arrange testing.
Mr Gutwein said he had hoped to be announcing "better news" in relation to both Brisbane and Sydney, but the Queensland Premier had made it clear the state was "very concerned" about the growing cluster within hotel quarantine.
"Don't come to Tasmania, that is what a high-risk classification is, and I want people to understand that," he said.
"We are going to leave our settings in place as they currently stand at the moment, this is due to Queensland having six cases of that more virulent United Kingdom strain."
As for NSW, Mr Gutwein said it could take "some weeks" for the state to control its clusters, and that Sydney travellers would still be required to quarantine when travelling to Tasmania.
"We will continue to monitor the situation in NSW closely," he said.
Director of Public Health, Dr Mark Veitch there was still a "small risk of infection" across Brisbane, and as a result, the greater Brisbane region would remain high-risk, while the greater Sydney region, including Wollongong, would remain medium-risk.
Dr Vietch said there would be no change at this stage to quarantine requirements for those already in quarantine in Tasmania, who had travelled from Brisbane since January 8.
It comes as NSW recorded one new locally acquired case on Wednesday, and six cases were detected in hotel quarantine.
RELATED:
Meanwhile Queensland recorded six new cases, all in hotel quarantine.
Tasmania had recorded just under 1600 tests over three days this week, and the Premier urged residents not to be complacent and to continue seeking tests.
An update on Queensland and NSW restrictions will be provided on Monday.
Victoria recorded no new cases on Wednesday, with risk locations from that state being updated daily.
To stay up to date visit https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/coming-to-tasmania.
Become a digital subscriber today. Online you can view today's paper and keep up-to-date with breaking news. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
Melissa Mobbs
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
