Tasmania deems Victoria ‘low-risk’ state, eases border restrictions

One state will relax its border restrictions with Victoria as of 12.01am on Saturday. But still not everyone can get in.

Tasmania will relax it hard border with Victoria after the state was deemed a “low risk” area.

Despite there being a number of “high-risk” premises within Victoria, which include the Holiday Inn and Brunetti cafe at Melbourne Airport, people who have not been in those areas for the past 14 days can freely enter Tasmania without having to quarantine.

But people who have been to one of the COVID-19 exposure sites are still not permitted to enter the state.

Tasmania will relax its border restrictions with Victoria at midnight. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Premier Peter Gutwein announced the changes will come into effect at 12.01am on Saturday.

“I’m pleased that because of the fast action that was undertaken in Victoria in response to their cases, the contact tracing and the way they responded has kept the situation in check,” he told reporters on Friday.

“We recognise the impact these restrictions have on many people … but I won't apologise for doing whatever we possibly can to keep Tasmanians safe.”

Mr Gutwein said people who were quarantining after arriving from Victoria on or after February 13 and had not been to a high-risk premises could leave isolation as of 12.01am on Saturday.

Victorian travellers who have not been to a ‘high-risk’ location can enter the state without isolating. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A worker from the Holiday Inn quarantine facility at Melbourne Airport unknowingly contracted COVID-19 and visited several locations while infectious.

This sparked the cluster, putting the state into a five-day lockdown.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the short “circuit breaker” did its job, allowing the state to get on top of the outbreak.

The list of high-risk sites are listed on the Tasmania Health website.