Premier releases heartfelt message 100 days after Tasmania’s last diagnosed case of COVID-19

Premier Peter Gutwein has released a heartfelt message, encouraging Tasmanians, 100 days after the last case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the state. READ HIS MESSAGE >>

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FIRSTLY, I want to thank Tasmanians for all their hard work to keep our community safe this year. I know it’s come at a cost to many. Please know that your sacrifices have not been in vain.

The actions that we took this year were necessary for us to get on top of the virus.

Our strong border restrictions served us well, keeping our community safe while allowing us to monitor significant outbreaks in other states.

They also allowed us to establish our testing, tracing and outbreak management processes and prepare our health and aged care facilities.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Chris Kidd

The recent Adelaide outbreak is a timely reminder that we simply cannot be complacent. With this virus things can change in an instant, so we must do everything we can to not only keep our community safe but also to keep our economy going.

Treasury modelling shows a second wave and subsequent restrictions that would need to be put in place would cost the state between $500-600 million.

We know that coronavirus will continue to be part of our lives and while we wait for a vaccine, which is progressing positively, our best defence is to be proactive and agile.

We will keep marching to the beat of our own drum, and we will continue to take swift and decisive action when needed to keep Tasmania safe.

We all need to understand, the virus isn’t going to go away overnight, it is something we are going to have to live with for many months to come.

Our pathway back will be gradual, it will be careful, and it will always be based upon the health advice we have at that time.

I can’t stress strongly enough that we need everyone’s help as we continue to ease our internal and border restrictions.

Everyone has worked so hard – particularly our health professionals – to get the virus under control and we don’t want to undo it all by being complacent.

So my message today to you is, thank you for all you have done, but our fight is not over yet. We need to keep following the simple rules, so we can continue doing the things that we’re enjoying.

Remember, wash your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, if you’re unwell stay at home and don’t go to work, and if you display even the mildest symptoms, please, get a test.

Together, let’s keep you, your family and our community safe while together we carefully navigate a pathway to recovery.

Originally published as Premier releases heartfelt message 100 days after Tasmania’s last diagnosed case of COVID-19