Tasmanians stuck on the mainland allowed to home quarantine during government trial

Tasmanians stuck on the mainland will be allowed to return home, with the “Quarantine at Home” trial launching today. DETAILS >>

TASMANIA has commissioned special modelling to guide how the state reopens to interstate travel once vaccination coverage peaks.

Premier Peter Gutwein on Friday said Tasmania was on track to have 90 per cent of eligible Tasmanians over the age of 16 vaccinated by December 1.

“We won’t open up to the high risk areas, until we are confident that all eligible Tasmanians over the age of 12 have had the opportunity to be vaccinated,” Mr Gutwein said.

“I said last week that it’s a race — and it is a race.

COVID update with Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“On the back of Victoria’s modelling, which was released this week, we’ve also commissioned the Garvan Medical Research Institute to do Tasmania-specific modelling.

“That modelling will be released along with our opening plan which we expect will be available in the middle of this coming month of October.”

Tasmanians stuck on the mainland, as well as new arrivals with suitable accommodation, will be allowed to enter the state, with a “Quarantine at Home” trial launching from today.

Returnees will have to display a sign on their front doors warning off visitors as one of a list of stringent requirements.

Tasmania Home Quarantine sign.

Those taking part in the 30-day trial must not have been in an excluded area or high-risk level one premises within 14 days; must be fully vaccinated and must have undertaken a Covid-19 test and recorded a negative result within 72 hours of travel.

And those quarantining can have no other people travel or stay with them, the premier said.

Currently the waiting list is 117 people long, the majority of whom are grey nomads and caravanners who are stuck on the mainland.

“This will ease pressures on our hotel quarantine system and as vaccination rates continue to rise, I think it’s sensible we take this step to get more Tasmanians home,” Mr Gutwein said.

Additionally, there will be 100 extra rooms at the Hobart Ibis and 108 at TraveLodge hotels for those seeking hotel quarantine.

The state’s “super six” week Operation Delta Shield vaccination blitz has ended with more than 200,000 extra doses administered, boosting coverage rates by 22 per cent, State Health Commander Katherine Morgan-Wicks told reporters.

Kathrine Morgan-Wicks secretary department of health. COVID update with Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

As of Friday, 54.5 per cent of those aged over 16 years are fully vaccinated, and 73 per cent of Tasmanians have received their first dose.

Director Of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch restated the importance of the vaccination mandate for health workers.

“We know that when we’re able to open our borders from late this year, or early next year there will be Covid cases quite quickly established in the community,” he said.

“Some of those will be in hospitals when they become a bit more unwell.

Doctor Mark Veitch director of public health. COVID update with Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“So people working in hospitals then will be at risk of catching Covid, furthermore, if they catch Covid – even if they’re vaccinated — there is still a small risk of transmitting it.

“But certainly if they catch Covid and they are unvaccinated they probably have a much higher risk of transmitting the infection within that workplace.

“We don’t want people with at higher risk of spreading Covid in the workplace.”

Originally published as Tasmanians stuck on the mainland allowed to home quarantine during government trial