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Tasmania’s 65-day run of being coronavirus free has ended with a new case confirmed by authorities.

Key points:

• There is a suspected case of coronavirus in a quarantine hotel in Tasmania’s south, the Premier says
• Tasmania has not had a new coronavirus case in 65 days and has not had an active case since June 12
• No information on where the suspected case was from has been released

On Monday, Dr Scott McKeown, acting director of Public Health, Public Health Services, confirmed the case was a “young woman” who had been in hotel quarantine after returning to Tasmania from Victoria.

“The woman is currently receiving treatment at the Royal Hobart Hospital, and Public Health Services are conducting contact tracing,” Dr McKeown said in a statement.

The new case brings the state’s total to 227 cases.

Further information about the case would be provided tomorrow, Dr McKeown said.

On June 12, Tasmanian health authorities declared the island as having no active cases.

Earlier, Premier Peter Gutwein said he did not have information about where the woman had travelled from.

“I’ve said to Tasmanians on many occasions [that] we will see positive cases,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Importantly, this one has been picked up in our hotel quarantine.”

Mr Gutwein said there were about 600 people in hotel quarantine in the state, and a further 1,000 in home quarantine.

Catch up on the main COVID-19 news from November 29 with our coronavirus blog.The report found some Tasmanians had expressed interest in becoming self-sufficient by learning how to hunt food.(Supplied: Guy Ellis)

Pandemic sees interest in learning how to grow, catch or hunt food

The Premier made the announcement as the state’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council handed down its first report into the pandemic.

The council, chaired by former Treasury boss Don Challen, made 64 recommendations to help Tasmania recover from the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

It called for cuts to red tape, clearer messaging from the Government and a focus on lifting Tasmanians out of disadvantage.

Read more about coronavirus:

More than 19,000 Tasmanians lost their jobs between March and May this year, with the underlying unemployment rate reaching an estimated 12 per cent.

Community service providers have told the council 67 per cent of Tasmanians seeking support for psychological distress are new clients.

“Some Tasmanians have reported that the pandemic has changed them as a person … others have indicated it has changed their life priorities,” the report said.

“We do not yet know where this will lead but there are some interesting early hints.

“For example, some Tasmanians have reported that they have started to grow their own food and many are interested in learning how to grow, catch or hunt their own food.”

Recommendations for Tasmania’s recovery include that the State Government should be clear about how it will handle future outbreaks of coronavirus to help ease community concerns.

Suggested economic measures include urging councils to prioritise dealing with development applications and planning approvals.

Catch up on the main COVID-19 news from November 29 with our coronavirus blog.

Another is that the State Government take “a much more active” approach to engaging with the private sector to facilitate major projects in Tasmania.

“As we move into the recovery phase of COVID-19, the urgency and priority applied to major project attraction and facilitation simply cannot return to that which existed in early 2020,” the report said.

“Projects face tight capital markets, globally suppressed economic conditions and increased competitive tension between jurisdictions to attract mobile capital.

“In this environment, the willingness of the State Government to actively engage with project proponents to find paths to bring projects to reality becomes doubly important.”

One of several social measures recommended is ensuring Tasmanians in need have access to free devices to work and learn from home.

Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak

According to the report, 17 per cent of Tasmanian households do not have access to the internet. In some regions that skyrockets to almost one-third of homes.

It was also suggested that the State Government transition from providing emergency food relief to more community-based and school-based food options.

A University of Tasmania study found the number of Tasmanians experiencing food insecurity rose to 26 per cent — up 20 percentage points — during the pandemic.

Mr Gutwein was handed the report late on Monday and said he was still considering its recommendations.

More than 100 submissions were made to the Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council, which will report to the Premier again next year.

No AFL deal yet

Mr Gutwein said a deal had yet to be struck that would allow AFL fixtures to be played in Tasmania this season.

Media reports suggested an agreement had been reached between the State Government, Cricket Tasmania and the AFL, which would see North Melbourne play four games at Bellerive Oval from early August through until mid September.

But Mr Gutwein said no decision on fixtures would be made on games in Tasmania until the Government knew when the states borders would reopen.

“We haven’t agreed on a final outcome with the AFL. We are in positive discussions with them,” he said.

“Until there’s been a decision on our borders, we won’t be letting anybody in under special exemptions to play football.”

The report suggested North Melbourne would base itself in Hobart for three weeks, following a three-week stint in Queensland due to end this weekend.

It is understood Cricket Tasmania is yet to sign off on an agreement but has blocked out a four-week window in which Bellerive Oval will able to be utilised for AFL matches.

There is also no indication as to whether Hawthorn will play games in Launceston this season.

The Hawks will be based in Perth from the end of July until late August and could make their way to Tasmania after that fixture block.

An announcement on the next block of AFL fixtures is expected on Tuesday.

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