OUR SAFEST PLACE
… and let’s keep it that way
TASMANIA is one of the “safest places on the planet”, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein says, with his strong stance on border restrictions vindicated by worsening coronavirus situations in other Australian states.
Victoria’s second wave of COVID-19 is spiralling out of control, with 723 new cases and 14 deaths announced yesterday – the state’s highest single day total since the start of the pandemic. NSW has more than 200 active cases and there are health alerts in 11 sites in Brisbane after breaches of self-isolation by two women who had tested positive.
Mr Gutwein, above, said community transmission in other states was why the government was taking cautious steps in relaunching its visitor economy.
“We have one of the safest places on the planet here and we want to keep it that way,” he said.
“I am desperately sorry for what is occurring in Victoria … and with more than 700 cases reported today, they are in for a very difficult time.”
From today, Tasmania will implement mandatory testing on arrival of all essential travellers from Victoria or determined hot spots in NSW.
THE worsening coronavirus crisis along Australia’s eastern seaboard justifies the decision to keep Tasmania locked away from most jurisdictions, Premier Peter Gutwein says.
“We have one of the safest places on the planet here and we want to keep it that way,’’ Mr Gutwein said on Thursday.
The state’s borders are set to open to COVID-safe South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory on August 7.
Tasmania has had 227 confirmed cases, but only one since May 15, a returned traveller who was in hotel quarantine and was later hospitalised.
Victoria’s second wave of COVID-19 is spiralling, with 723 new cases and 14 deaths announced on Thursday, and more than 5800 active cases.
NSW has recorded another 18 cases of the virus, taking its active case numbers to more than 200.
In Queensland, three new cases were recorded on Thursday.
Strict controls are in place for arrivals into Tasmania, including mandatory 14-day quarantine either in a hotel or at their residence, with exemptions to this rule (including essential workers) considered on a case-by-case basis.
From Friday, mandatory testing for coronavirus of all essential travellers from VicThe toria or other determined hot spots will be rolled out in Tasmania.
Mr Gutwein said this would include freight and logistics operators, and added essential travellers from Victoria or other deemed hot spots were unlikely to be granted exemptions unless there were exceptional reasons, such as medical treatment or industry critical circumstances.
He said community transmission in other states was why the state was taking cautious steps towards relaunching its visitor economy.
“I am desperately sorry for what is occurring in Victoria at the moment and with more than 700 cases reported today, they are in for a very difficult time,’’ Mr Gutwein said.
“But in terms of our decision last week to not open to the eastern seaboard, this underlines the cautious and sensible approach that we have taken.”
Mr Gutwein is set to provide an update on Friday about borders after a meeting of the national cabinet.
Premier said the border with Victoria would be reviewed at the end of that state’s emergency period, but he ruled out opening to our nearest neighbour at “any time in the near future”.
“In terms of NSW … they’ve obviously got community transmission and unfortunately Queensland now have a small number of cases and we’ll be watching very closely what we do there,’’ Mr Gutwein said.
And he again renewed his plea for people to follow the rules.
“If you enter Tasmania, be absolutely truthful about where you have been and what the circumstances are. If you lie, and you are caught out, then we will throw the book at you,” he said.
Labor leader Rebecca White said she supported a precautionary approach to reopening borders to states that were deemed safe.
“Tasmania sits in a good position compared to other states when it comes to fighting the spread of COVID-19 and we want to remain that way,’’ Ms White said.
“If borders remain closed to other jurisdictions, the government will need to consider providing more assistance to affected businesses and their staff so they are able to stay afloat.”