COVID FREE
NO ACTIVE VIRUS CASES BUT PREMIER REFUSES TO RUSH REOPENING
TASMANIA has no active cases of coronavirus — and restrictions will be further eased from next week.
Speaking after yesterday’s national cabinet meeting, Premier Peter Gutwein announced that from 12pm on Wednesday, a maximum of 80 people would be allowed at indoor and outdoor gatherings, based on the one person per four square-metres social distancing rule.
However, he refused to confirm when the state borders would open to the rest of Australia, despite Queensland and South Australia confirming they would reopen on July 10 and 20 respectively.
AN easing of restrictions will be rolled out in Tasmania from next week now that the state has no active coronavirus cases.
Speaking after yesterday’s national cabinet meeting, Premier Peter Gutwein announced a maximum of 80 people would, from 12pm on Wednesday, be allowed at indoor and outdoor gatherings based on the one person per 4sqm social distancing rule.
The relaxation of social distancing measures for Tasmania comes as Queensland and South Australia yesterday announced their borders would reopen on July 10 and 20, respectively. But despite speculating that interstate travel could restart from late July, the Premier gave no clear indication on when Tasmania’s border would reopen.
The easing of Stage 2 restrictions will apply to a range of social venues, including hospitality establishments, gyms, weddings and funerals.
It comes as Mr Gutwein yesterday announced Tasmania had zero active coronavirus cases, but stopped short of declaring that the state’s coronavirus fight was over.
“It’s an important milestone to have no active cases in the state and is something Tasmanians
should be proud of — but this is not over,” he said.
“This is a pandemic that is racking the rest of the world.
“It’s important as we move forward that we take steps as, and when we can, to allow people back into Tasmania.”
Mr Gutwein said the easing of Stage 2 restrictions next week would be followed by further restrictions being lifted on June 26, when Stage 3 of the state’s recovery plan starts.
Proposals under Stage 3 measures include outdoor gatherings of up to 500 people and the return of markets.
When asked why Tasmania had not followed other states on setting a border reopening date, Mr Gutwein said: “We want to keep an eye on what is occurring in those other jurisdictions.”
“Right across the country, now, more people will be mixing, and I think it’s sensible to keep an eye on what’s occurring,” he said.
“We’ll consider our borders reopening over the next couple of weeks and, if we’re in a position to make an announcement regarding a date, which I expect could be during the end of July, then we will do so.”
The Queensland and South Australian border easing announcements follow pressure from Prime Minister Scott Morrison on all states who are keeping their borders shut for interstate travel. The PM said states needed to open their borders before they could allow international students in.
Mr Morrison said states were working towards rules which would allow stadiums with a capacity of 40,000 or less to be able to host up to 10,000 people.
Mr Gutwein said the measure could allow for the “possibility that AFL [matches] could be played in the state this season”.
Labor leader Rebecca White said it was difficult to understand “the lack of clarity” on when Tasmania’s borders would reopen, given the state’s COVID-19 status.