Alerts

Current Active Alerts

Novel coronavirus

Update: Friday 14 February 2020

Today we received an update from the Prime Minister, confirming restrictions on foreign nationals travelling from China will be extended for seven days, following advice from chief health officers.

This will be effective from the 15th of February and reviewed in one week, and weekly thereafter, as public health authorities continue to monitor the situation. Tasmanians are also advised to heed the travel advice for mainland China, which is at a Level Four: “Do not travel.”

Update: Tuesday 11 February 2020 – 10.00AM

Novel coronavirus is a virus that was recently identified in China.  We are receiving regular advice from the Tasmanian Department of Health about the virus and implications for our sites (schools, libraries, child and family centres and other offices).

Consistent with national advice, the Department recommends the following:

• Those who have been in contact with any confirmed novel coronavirus case should not attend school or childcare and remain isolated in their homes for 14 days following exposure.
• Those who have recently visited Hubei Province in China should not attend school or childcare and remain isolated in their homes for 14 days after leaving Hubei Province.
• Those who have departed mainland China and arrived in Australia on or after the 1^st of February should not attend school or childcare and remain isolated in their homes for 14 days after leaving China.
• Those who arrived in Australia from mainland China (other than Hubei Province) before 1 February can attend school or childcare, as long as they are well.

The Australian Government has advised that there is no cause for alarm and the risk to the public is currently low.  At this time there are no confirmed cases in Tasmania.

Australian border control and public health measures are in place to identify any person arriving in Australia from China who develops novel coronavirus infection to prevent further spread.

There is important advice from the Commonwealth Health Department. Australian health authorities are monitoring the situation daily and this advice may change. Visit the Australian Government Department of Health website to find current information relating to the education sector and home isolation.

If you are unsure whether this applies to you or have other questions, please call the Tasmanian Hotline on 1800 671 738.

Please see our Fact Sheet (English) or Fact Sheet (Chinese) for more information.