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Tasmania’s ‘most hated man’ who plunged much of the island into lockdown APOLOGISES

Tasmania's 'most hated man' who plunged much of the island into lockdown APOLOGISES 2

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A Covid-infected man who sparked a three-day lockdown in Tasmania after ‘walking out the door’ of hotel quarantine while infectious has pleaded for residents to ‘find it in their heart to forgive him’. 

Tim Gunn, 31, arrived in Hobart from New South Wales last week without a valid border pass and was sent to Hobart Travelodge to serve hotel quarantine.

In an interview with Seven, Gunn said he didn’t escape the facility, rather he simply ‘walked out’ and pleaded for forgiveness.

‘I would like to say how terribly sorry I am to the state of Tasmania for the trouble I have caused,’ he said.

‘I did not do this on purpose. It definitely wasn’t an act of selfishness or carelessness.

‘I would hope that sometime soon Tasmania could find it in their heart to forgive me.’

Tim Gunn arrived in Hobart from New South Wales last week without a valid border pass and was sent to Hobart Travelodge to serve hotel quarantine but left while infectious with Covid

Tim Gunn arrived in Hobart from New South Wales last week without a valid border pass and was sent to Hobart Travelodge to serve hotel quarantine but left while infectious with Covid

Gunn's actions sparked a three-day lockdown across the state's south, including Hobart, which was lifted at 6pm on Monday

Gunn’s actions sparked a three-day lockdown across the state’s south, including Hobart, which was lifted at 6pm on Monday

Gunn registeresd 169 contacts after visiting a number of venues in the community, which saw officials lock down 12 LGAs in the island state including Hobart

 Gunn registeresd 169 contacts after visiting a number of venues in the community, which saw officials lock down 12 LGAs in the island state including Hobart

Police in Tasmania are probing claims by the NSW man, whose hotel quarantine breach sparked a lockdown.

No cases have been recorded since the 31-year-old escaped the Hobart Travelodge early last week and spent about 18 hours in the community.

It sparked a three-day lockdown across the state’s south, including Hobart, which was lifted at 6pm on Monday.

Gunn claims he had correspondence with health officials and believed he was free to leave the hotel after producing a negative test. 

‘I rang Public Health and told them everything and I produced a negative test before I left, and they said I did everything right and that I didn’t need to quarantine,’ he said.

‘I didn’t escape or anything like that I just simply walked out. I’m not that type of guy that would just go galivanting around, I’ve got total remorse.’

Gunn claims he had correspondence with health officials and believed he was free to leave the hotel after producing a negative test

Gunn claims he had correspondence with health officials and believed he was free to leave the hotel after producing a negative test

Gunn says he simply 'walked out the door' of Hobart Travelodge after believing he was free to leave after producing a negative test

Gunn says he simply ‘walked out the door’ of Hobart Travelodge after believing he was free to leave after producing a negative test 

'I rang Public Health and told them everything and I produced a negative test before I left, and they said I did everything right and that I didn't need to quarantine,' he said

‘I rang Public Health and told them everything and I produced a negative test before I left, and they said I did everything right and that I didn’t need to quarantine,’ he said

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said the circumstances of the breach are subject to a police investigation.

‘I expect to have a report from the state controller in coming days and we’ll release that information when it comes to hand,’ he said on Wednesday.

Donna Adams, acting deputy commissioner of Tasmania Police, said two scenarios will be examined, that the man left the hotel out a window or via a door.

‘The veracity of the claims made by the positive case will be assessed by Tasmania Police,’ Ms Adams said.

She said security guards at hotel quarantine facilities don’t necessarily have the power to physically detain someone who attempts to leave.

‘The expectation would be that security call police. Police are well trained to deal with difficult and non-compliant people,’ she said.

‘The last thing we want is untrained security guards to be grappling with someone seeking to leave a facility.’

Mr Gutwein says Tasmania is on track to pass the target of 90 per cent by December 1, ahead of a planned reopening by Christmas

Mr Gutwein says Tasmania is on track to pass the target of 90 per cent by December 1, ahead of a planned reopening by Christmas

As of Wednesday, more than 70 per cent of Tasmanians over 16 are fully vaccinated

As of Wednesday, more than 70 per cent of Tasmanians over 16 are fully vaccinated

Of the 169 contacts of the man, 167 have tested negative and two results are pending.

As of Wednesday, more than 70 per cent of Tasmanians over 16 are fully vaccinated.

Mr Gutwein says Tasmania is on track to pass the target of 90 per cent by December 1, ahead of a planned reopening by Christmas.

He said Tasmania’s reopening plan, previously flagged to be unveiled this week, would be detailed on Friday.

He announced support would be provided to businesses impacted by the snap restrictions.

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