Tasmania moves to introduce new rules amid nation’s COVID-19 risk, despite no local cases

Another state has moved to introduce tough new restrictions, despite having no locally acquired cases, to keep the Covid-19 Delta variant at bay.

Tasmania will introduce new rules to keep locally acquired Covid-19 cases of the Delta variant at bay, despite having no local transmission.

Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Wednesday afternoon that QR code check-ins will be mandatory for retailers, including supermarkets and shopping centres from next week.

“We will be expanding this from the other settings where it is obviously already mandatory,” he said.

Mr Gutwein also said authorities had spoken with Events Tasmania and organisers for a winter singing festival called Festival of Voice about a requirement to wear face masks at all festival activities.

Under the new rules, all event goers, participants, support staff and volunteers must wear a mask at the event as of Wednesday night.

Performers are only exempt while they are actually singing.

Mr Gutwein said people aged 11 years and younger were exempted from wearing a mask but were still encouraged.

“This action has been taken because of the current national level COVID-19 risk.

“Public health will continue to review the need to extend mask wears to other events and activities in line with national Covid circumstances and the risk to Tasmanians.

“That will be an ongoing process as we normally do with our current restrictions.”

He said the state had also decided against a planned AFL game between Fremantle and Carlton that was to be played at UTAS Stadium in Launceston.

“I know that will disappoint many people, especially Carlton supporters who I‘m sure there are many of in the state. We just advised the AFL of that decision.”

Mr Gutwein also announced Alice Springs had been declared a high-risk level 2 area by Tasmanian authorities as the city went into a three-day lockdown.

Under the state’s Covid-19 response, it means people shouldn’t travel from that area unless they had an exemption.

He said the state took a strong risk-based approach to managing its border restrictions.

“We need to maintain strong internal processes, given the number of high-risk areas across the country,” Mr Gutwein said.

He added constructive discussions were had with Hobart Airport about streamlining the state‘s border check in process so it was faster to get people in without mitigating the risk.

He said he acknowledged the process had “taken some time”.

“I don‘t apologise for that.

“We can always do things better and that's exactly what we’re going to try and do.”