A state entirely free of Covid-19 suffered a scare after a man escaped a quarantine hotel.

A man has escaped from a quarantine hotel in Tasmania overnight, sparking a Covid-19 scare.

The 25-year-old was deemed an unauthorised traveller when he arrived in the state on October 25 and ordered into hotel quarantine.

While he was being transferred from the Ibis to the TraveLodge Hobart Airport on Wednesday afternoon, he ran from the bus on arrival.

Police were called and then arrested the man 30 minutes later about 5.30pm.

Half of Tasmania was plunged into a snap three-day lockdown the last time someone escaped from one of the state’s hotel quarantine facilities.

The health measure was enforced after a Covid-19 positive man from NSW escaped the TraveLodge Hobart hotel in mid-October.

But Tasmania Police said the risk to the community was low on this occasion due to Wednesday’s escapee returning a negative test result for coronavirus.

He also had no contact with the public during his brief period of freedom.

The man was charged with breaching Covid-19 directions and is set to face court later on Thursday.

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