EASTER CRACKDOWN

POLICE PATROLS TO STOP WEEKEND GETAWAYS

TASMANIANS have been warned to stay at home this Easter as police vow to ramp up road patrols and spot checks on uninhabited shacks.

Premier Peter Gutwein and Police Commissioner Darren Hine warned against unnecessary travel as authorities adopted a hard-line approach to protect Tasmanians from the spread of coronavirus. Visits to the state’s hospitals and aged care homes also have been banned in further measures designed to stop the spread of the disease.

The rules took effect from noon yesterday, with Mr Gutwein describing the move as strict but necessary.

VISITS to the state’s hospitals and aged care homes have been banned in further measures designed to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The rules took effect from midday yesterday and were strict but necessary, Premier Peter Gutwein said.

Exceptions will be made for partners at the birth of a child, a parent visiting a dependent child sick in hospital, or for compassionate and end of life reasons.

Mr Gutwein said the restrictions on visitation to aged care homes were required to protect Tasmania’s most vulnerable. “What we don’t want over the Easter period are people with time on their hands thinking that what we’ll do is pop in and see mum and dad,’’ he said.

“There will be no visitors to aged care facilities unless it’s a visit for end of life or compassionate grounds as determined by the facility.”

Mr Gutwein said the rules would be in place for at least two weeks before being reviewed.

“We understand how important it is for people to remain connected.

“We would encourage you through this period to use Skype, phones or other communication, and the homes will work with you in terms of those matters,’’ he said.

“It’s simply important that we don’t expose those that are most vulnerable in our communities through either visitation into aged care or visitation into our hospitals.”

Council on the Ageing Tasmania chief executive Sue Leitch said the new restrictions were understandable due to the number of coronavirus deaths that had occurred in older people.

“We would recommend all residential aged care facilities work closely with families and relatives of residents that they have in their facilities to facilitate another way they can stay connected,’’ she said.

“We’ve been seeing on social media some creative examples of how facilities are trying to work around this to be able to provide other ways for contact.

“We’ve seen beautiful messaging outside windows in some areas, we’ve seen photos coming through of what they’re doing within facilities and it’s really heartening to see.”

Meanwhile, the peak body for not-for-profit aged care providers in Australia said it supported the State Government’s decision to limit visitation.

Aged and Community Services Australia chief executive Patricia Sparrow said the first priority was safety.

But she acknowledged families would find it hard to be separated from loved ones.

“We are acutely aware of the impact of social isolation,” Ms Sparrow said.

“We will be ramping up special measures for social and mental health support like access to video conferencing.

“We encourage all families and friends to keep in touch with loved ones via the phone, video calling or social media.

“Providers will offer support and work with you to make sure this can occur.”