Coronavirus: Parks for recreation bans to lift in Tasmania

Tasmania has flagged an imminent easing of COVID-19 restrictions on visits to parks and green spaces.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tasmania has flagged an imminent easing of COVID-19 restrictions on visits to parks and green spaces, and for limits on the mourners allowed at funerals.

Premier Peter Gutwein on Thursday said all other restrictions on movement and social interactions would remain until at least May 15.

“The current restrictions are in place until the 15th (but) I am hopeful we may be able to move a little earlier on the green space and access to parks,” he said. “One matter that has been very troubling for many families is the number of people who can attend funerals … I hope to be able to do something earlier (on that).”

A visit ban to aged-care homes will stop from Monday midnight.

Mr Gutwein, who will on Friday announce a “road map” to the gradual easing of coronavirus restrictions, said one new case in Tasmania had been confirmed overnight: a man in his 30s in the state’s northwest, who was a close contact of an existing virus patient.

However, 10 staff at the Launceston General Hospital tested for the virus after a colleague succumbed to the disease this week had been cleared and would be ­assessed for a return to work.

Acting Public Health Director Scott McKeown declined to say he was confident the virus would not spread at the LGH but he was “confident the hospital is managing the situation … appropriately”.