Man who tested positive to coronavirus worked at Hobart’s Grand Chancellor Hotel pending test results

प्रकाशित मिति:

Health authorities say a man in Hobart who contracted coronavirus did not follow instructions to self-isolate, instead going to work at a major hotel. The man in his 20s travelled from Nepal and transited through Singapore and Sydney before arriving in Hobart on February 26, Tasmania’s director of Public Health Services Mark Veitch said.

He experienced cold-like symptoms the day after his travels but continued to work and visit his vocational college.The man worked several shifts at Hobart’s Grand Chancellor Hotel last week and Dr Veitch said Public Health was working with the hotel to identify whether any colleagues would qualify as “close contacts” and require isolation.

He contacted a telephone hotline on March 6 after developing further symptoms and was tested at the Royal Hobart Hospital that evening.

Dr Veitch said the man was advised to self-isolate between the testing and receiving his results, but he did not comply and “went to work the next day”.

He received his positive test result yesterday and was admitted to the RHH, where he is in a satisfactory condition.It is unacceptable to continue activities in public or attend work while waiting for the coronavirus virus test results,” Dr Veitch said.

Four members of the man’s household and three friends are now in quarantine for 14 days.

Dr Veitch said health authorities would also further investigate his movements, including at his vocational college.

“He’s a student at the Ideal College in Hobart and has attended the college twice recently and we have been in contact with a staff member of the college and we are engaging with them further over the next day or so,” Dr Veitch said.

“The particular follow up of this case is complex and very demanding and we’re grateful for the hard work of the Public Health team.”

Public Health will now clarify the man’s flight details to determine whether his illness posed a risk to anyone on the flight.

There have been 114 tests for coronavirus in Tasmania to date.

The deputy director of Public Health Scott McKeown said there had been “a very significant increase in testing since the first case was confirmed”.

Government may ‘strengthen compliance measures’

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the Government was considering stronger compliance measures to reduce the risk of people spreading the virus.

“We want to see Tasmanians kept safe, kept healthy, so it’s unacceptable that you do not follow the advice and indeed today I have asked the director of Public Health for further advice on whether or not we need to strengthen measures to ensure compliance with self-isolation,” she said.

“I send a very strong message to Tasmanians, if you have been asked to be in self-isolation, you must comply with that it is very serious and it is very irresponsible if you do not comply with self-isolation.”

Greens health spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said it was important that authorities got to the bottom of why the man did not self-isolate.

“Was it a lack of support was it a lack of understanding or was it a lack of will?” she said.

She said more generally, people in rural and remote parts of Tasmania needed clear information about how they would go about self-isolating, should it be required.

“Supermarket chains don’t deliver to people in regional areas and it is not easy to just drop past a neighbour in Southport or other remote parts of Tasmania.

“I’ve been called by constituents, I’ve been stopped in the street by people asking these questions, people are trying to imagine a situation where they’re asked to self-isolate possibly with their whole family.”It did not mention the student who has tested positive but said: “We must take additional precautions for the safety of our students and staff, which is of paramount importance”

The statement said students should not attend the college if they had cold or flu-like symptoms and to contact a GP for a coronavirus test and then to follow their instructions.

“These rules apply regardless of whether you have recently returned from an overseas destination.” the information said.

“If you come into the college and are displaying cold/flu-like symptoms, you will be asked to vacate the premises immediately and the health authorities will be called.”

The Hotel Grand Chancellor and Ideal College have been contacted for comment.