Big events are back on the agenda
New hope as restrictions set to ease
THE way could be clear for large public gatherings over summer as the government looks for ways to wind back coronavirus restrictions while keeping the public safe.
As border restrictions ease, Premier Peter Gutwein will make an announcement later this week that major events like sport and festivals can proceed.
The government’s Large Events Framework is expected to wind back the 1,000 person limit for outdoor events.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said it was part of a review of the remaining restrictions on gatherings “to give a bit more normality to the summer season”.
“We will be announcing in the next few days … the result of some work that’s been done by State Growth, Events Tasmania, Sport and Recreation and Public Health to set up a framework for larger events over the coming months,” he said.
“There’s gatherings of in the many hundreds or several thousand in stadiums and the like — there’ll be some guidelines about that.
“When that work is complete, my colleagues and I in Public Health will have a close look through the remaining restrictions that are in place and we’ll see whether it’s appropriate to make some changes to modify them as summer and Christmas approached.
But he said there would be not change to the 20 person gathering limit in time for AFL Grand Final paries.
“We won’t be changing the requirement the limits on household gatherings for this weekend, so the restriction will still be for 20 people, plus the usual household members, which is a reasonable sized gathering.
“You can have a fair bit to kick- to- kick with 12 people at each end of your backyard. So we’re not changing that rule in a hurry.”
Tasmania is “almost back to normal” Premier Peter Gutwein said on Monday, “but it’s a new COVID normal”.
This comes as the first international tourists were let into the state and Mr Gutwein and Public Health consider reopening the state to New South Wales on November 2, and Victoria later next month.
Mr Gutwein also outlined the new Tas e- Travel system, which will help Public Health understand where travellers are coming from and will be available from Friday this week from the government’s coronavirus website.
“In terms of travellers from New South Wales, we’ve been monitoring the situation in that state as I’ve indicated and it’s pleasing that state whilst continuing to have new cases they are only a limited handful of cases,” he said.
“We intend to continue to monitor the situation in New South Wales for the remainder of this week with the hope we may be able to ease our restrictions in the first week of November.”
Mr Gutwein also while there are no changes to border restrictions with Victoria yet, if cases continue to drop, Public Health may consider easing restrictions earlier than December 1.
The state will re- open to other safe jurisdictions – Queensland, NT, WA, SA and ACT – next Monday, October 26.
Six New Zealanders have also arrived in Tasmania as part of the country’s travel bubble with NSW.
“I’m advised as of yesterday we’ve had five travellers from New Zealand that have arrived in Tasmania and a further New Zealander that has travelled here today,” Mr Gutwein said.
All six are in hotel quarantine at their own expense but travellers coming from across the ditch may be able to skip hotel quarantine by the end of the week.
Travellers who are currently in quarantine will be able to exit if the Public Health advice is changed, Mr Gutwein said, with more information to be announced on Friday.
YOU CAN HAVE A FAIR BIT TO KICK- TO- KICK WITH 12 PEOPLE AT EACH END OF YOUR BACKYARD. SO WE’RE NOT CHANGING THAT RULE IN A HURRY.”
PREMIER PETER GUTWEIN