Tas records first case after reopening

The man arrived at Hobart Airport on Wednesday morning on flight QF1533 and returned a positive test in the evening.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the man was an approved traveller, was fully vaccinated and had returned a negative test in the 72 hours before landing in Tasmania as required.

"After arrival he was notified by NSW Health and informed he was a close contact of a case in NSW," Mr Gutwein told reporters on Thursday.

The man is isolating at a home and is being managed by public health.

Anyone who was at Hobart Airport between 8.30am and 9am on Wednesday should monitor for symptoms and get a test if they develop any.

Tasmania on Wednesday threw open its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers after almost two years of hard border restrictions.

The island state has been virtually free of community virus cases since early in the pandemic and had no active cases when borders reopened.

"It's understandable that some people will be concerned. However, what this demonstrates is that the system works," Mr Gutwein said.

"This will be the first case but not the last we will receive."

State Public Health Director Mark Veitch said shortly after arriving the man was told by NSW Health he had been at a hospitality venue in Newcastle last weekend where there was significant virus transmission.

The man took a taxi to get a test. The driver and a family member who went with him are in isolation.

Dr Veitch said 97 people were aboard the flight and 19 of those have been identified as close contacts and told to quarantine for a week.

"They've all been contacted by SMS and they're currently being interviewed by ... Public Health," Dr Veitch said.

"They'll have a test at the start of their quarantine period and end."

Dr Vetich said it was not yet known whether the man has the Omicron variant of the virus.

Tasmania on Wednesday night added all of Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and Geelong to its list of high-risk areas following increases in virus case numbers.

Anyone wishing to enter Tasmania from high-risk areas must return a negative test in the 72 hours before they travel.

Australian Associated Press