Coronavirus Australia: Tasmania declares state of emergency, shutting borders

Tasmania has become a little version of Australia, demanding that tourists flying in from interstate self-isolate for 14 days under tough new border rules.

All non-essential travellers arriving in Tasmania will be forced to quarantine for two weeks in coronavirus border measures dubbed the toughest in the country.

Premier Peter Gutwein declared a state of emergency for the Apple Isle on Thursday.

“We are going to introduce the toughest border measures in the country. Only essential travellers will be allowed into Tasmania without going into quarantine,” he told reporters.

“From midnight, Friday 20 March, all non-essential travellers departing for Tasmanian will be required to quarantine for 14 days,” he said.

“This is a tough, but necessary decision to flatten the curve, putting Tasmanians‘ health and wellbeing first.”

Tasmania’s new border rule is similar to federal measures announced on Sunday by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who said all overseas arrivals into Australia had to self-isolate for 14 days.

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All non-essential travellers arriving in Tasmania will be forced to quarantine for two weeks. Picture: Matt Thompson

Hobart Airport. Picture: Matt Thompson

Mr Gutwein said the quarantine period would not apply to essential travellers such as health care workers, emergency workers, defence personnel, air and ship crew, specialists, and essential freight personnel (truck drivers/spirit freight).

“There will be stringent guidelines to manage this,” he said

Mr Gutwein said the restrictions do not apply to Tasmanian residents on islands such as King and Flinders, flying into mainland Tasmania.

“However they will apply to anyone travelling inbound to the island from mainland Australia including residents returning home to the island,” he said.

“Mainland Australians flying into our islands then on to mainland Tasmania will need to self-quarantine when they arrive.”

All passengers will be screened on arrival and must demonstrate they meet the essential traveller criteria.

If they are deemed non-essential, they will be directed to quarantine at their stated place of address.

People who breach quarantine could be fined up to $16,800.

Three new virus cases were confirmed on Wednesday night, taking the state total to 10, although there has been no evidence of local transmission.