‘Unacceptable’: Coronavirus-infected man worked at Hobart hotel while awaiting test results

A young man in Hobart who has tested positive to coronavirus ignored health advice to self-isolate and worked at a major hotel in the city.

The student, aged in his 20s, arrived in Hobart on 26 February after travelling from Nepal and Singapore and suffered cold-like symptoms in the days following.

He was tested on Friday and advised to self-quarantine while awaiting results but didn’t comply and worked at Hobart’s Grand Chancellor Hotel.

Grand Chancellor hotel, Hobart.

A test result returned a positive reading for coronavirus late on Saturday.

Health authorities are working with the hotel to determine whether any of the man’s colleagues had “close contact” with him and require isolation.

He also worked several shifts at the hotel last week and twice briefly attended the Australian Ideal College.

“It is unacceptable to continue activities in public or attend work while waiting for the coronavirus virus test results,” state Public Health Director Dr Mark Veitch said.

The man is in isolation at the Royal Hobart Hospital in a “satisfactory” condition, the health department says.

He is the second case of the virus in Tasmania after a 40-year-old man tested positive in Launceston on Monday.

Four members of his household and three friends have been quarantined for two weeks.