A 37-year-old Queensland man has been charged after allegedly absconding hotel quarantine in Launceston.

The man arrived in Tasmania yesterday on a flight from Sydney without approval from the Deputy State Controller and was directed into hotel quarantine at Peppers Seaport.

Initial investigations suggest that the man left the hotel last night around midnight via a third floor balcony.  When a physical check of his room was conducted this morning around 9am, the man was discovered to be missing.  Police were able to quickly track down the man and he was arrested at a residence in Newnham around 10am.

The man has been charged with one count of Fail to comply with Direction of an Emergency Management Worker and will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court at 8pm tonight.

Information is the man had limited contact with members of the public.  He has undergone a COVID-19 test and we are awaiting those results.

Anyone who arrives in Tasmania from a high-risk area without prior approval is immediately directed to a government managed quarantine facility.  Upon receipt of a negative COVID-19 test, these travellers will then be directed to leave Tasmania.  This approach is to ensure that potential COVID-19 cases were not being placed on flights or sailings.

Tasmania Police do have a full-time presence at domestic hotel quarantine sites where unauthorised arrivals are housed across the state, including Peppers Seaport.

With the borders opening on 15 December, it is important to remember to check what restrictions remain on travel, if you are travelling, or expecting visitors, keep up to date with restriction through www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au