Daily blog, May 17: Coronavirus restrictions set to ease
Tasmania has recorded another day with no news coronavirus cases, as the state begins its road to recovery. REPLAY THE LATEST COVID-19 BRIEFING
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Hotel lobby challenges Premier to loosen reins
- REVEALED: Tassie’s road map out of COVID-19 restrictions
- When do the pubs reopen?
- When do the kids go back to school?
- Cash boost to help pay rent amid pandemic
- What went wrong? Experts offer their views
READ MORE:
- Everything we know about the cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania
- Where each case of coronavirus occurred in Tasmania
9.10pm: RESTAURANTS WELCOME RETURN OF DINERS
ONE Hobart waterfront venue is already booked out for lunch and dinner as Tasmanians jump at the chance to eat out again.
Sush Track on Franklin Wharf is one of a selection of Tasmanian eateries to reopen for limited table service on Monday under stage one of the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Like food businesses across the state, Sush Track has been forced to transform itself more than once to meet the changing parameters of the coronavirus-era.
The popular sushi train venue has gone from a no bookings, walk-in model to a full takeaway and delivery model to a booking-only model.
7.57pm: NO NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS
TASMANIA has recorded another day with no new coronavirus cases.
The state’s tally remains at 226.
Tasmania has recorded just one case of the virus in the past nine days, after a 70-year-old Ruby Princess cruise ship passenger who was diagnosed on Friday.
Any Tasmanian with cold or flu-like symptoms, such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose or fever, should contact their GP or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange testing for coronavirus.
6.50pm: SENIOR FOOTBALL COMPETITIONS STILL A LONG SHOT
TASMANIANS had better prepare for the real possibility of no senior football in the state in 2020.
AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires said the governing body, leagues and clubs would exhaust every option and do everything in their power to play games, but the reality was it was more unlikely than likely.
However, there was more optimism around a return of junior football.
6.15pm: KIDS READY TO CLIMB AS PLAYGROUNDS REOPEN
KEEN kids will be able to burn off some excess energy from Monday as the state’s parks and playgrounds reopen to the public.
Restrictions will still apply, however Willow McMinn said her daughters, Stella, 7, and Pippa, 5, are excited to get back out and play.
Up to 10 people will be allowed at parks and playgrounds at any one time, and rules around social distancing and hygiene still need to be followed.
5.45pm: FUNDING TO QUENCH THIRST FOR SUPPORT
DEMAND for community grants has soared as COVID-19 sees non-profits rely more than ever on goodwill.
Kingborough Community Missions fundraising co-ordinator Clare Corrigan said she was seeing an influx of clients seeking help.
“It is really scary seeing an increase in people suffering from food insecurity,” she said.
5.10pm: SHEPHERDS WELCOME RETURN OF SMALL FLOCKS
MONDAY will herald the return of small religious gatherings of up to 10 parishioners, about two months after Tasmanian churches were forced to close their doors.
But the traditional “sign of peace” Christian handshake and sharing of chalice wine will remain strictly forbidden as the state makes its way through the roadmap to COVID-19 recovery.
3.40pm: CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS SET TO EASE
IN the past nine days, there has been just one confirmed case of coronavirus in the state.
Premier Peter Gutwein said as we began the road to recovery, it was vital we did not undo all the good work in suppressing the virus.
“Tasmanians in the main have worked hard to stay home and safe lives, and it’s made a difference to drastically slowing the spread of the coronavirus in the state,” he said.
However as restrictions begin to ease from Monday, he urged Tasmanians not to become complacent.
Stage one restrictions being eased tomorrow include:
- Visitors to households increasing to up to five people at a time;
- Gatherings increasing to 10 people (not including event or premises staff) for indoor and outdoor gatherings;
- Restaurants and cafes in all settings (including in pubs, clubs, hotels and RSLs) to open and seat up to 10 patrons at a time;
- Community and local government facilities and libraries can open for up to 10 people;
- Funerals may extend to 30 attendees outdoors, with the indoor limit remaining at 20 attendees;
- Local parks and playgrounds are open for groups of up to 10 people;
- Training for sports teams may commence limited to 10 people and with stringent hygiene and distancing rules in place;
- Outdoor boot camps can open for up to 10 people; and
- Pools may open for up to 10 people per pool.
There are 18 active cases of coronavirus in Tasmania, with 195 people having recovered and 53 close contacts remaining in quarantine.
On Saturday, 193 people were tested for coronavirus in the South, 87 in the North, and 108 in the North-West.
At the mobile testing clinics, 16 people were tested at Bothwell, 58 at Geeveston, and 19 at Scottsdale.
2pm: WATCH THE COVID-19 BRIEFING LIVE
Premier Peter Gutwein and Minister for Health Sarah Courtney will provide a coronavirus update.
8.30pm yesterday: RUBY PRINCESS PASSENGER BREAKS COVID-FREE STREAK
THE singular new case of coronavirus diagnosed in Tasmania over the past week was a Ruby Princess traveller, the state’s health authority has revealed.
On Friday night, the state broke its seven-day streak with no newly-confirmed infections with news a man in his 70s from northern Tasmania had returned a positive test.
Contact tracing kicked off straight away, public health director Mark Veitch said.
On Saturday afternoon, Dr Veitch confirmed investigators had discovered the man was also a close contact of a previously confirmed case and was in quarantine when he was most likely to have been infectious.
As of 6pm on Saturday, there had been no new cases of coronavirus confirmed in the State.
Tasmania’s infection tally remains at 226.
8pm yesterday: TASMANIAN BUILDERS BID FOR $40K FIRST HOME GRANT
BUILDERS have called for a temporary doubling of Tasmania’s First Home Owner Grant, saying such a measure would save jobs and bring “fairness” to the state’s housing market.
Master Builders Tasmania wants to see the grant for first home buyers who either build their own home or buy off a plan, increased from $20,000 to $40,000.
“Building a fairer housing sector and supporting more people and families to own their own home is a sure-fire way to fast track our recovery,” Master Builders executive director Matthew Pollock said.
7.30pm yesterday: PLEA FOR MORE TASMANIA SEAFOOD ON THE MENU
“GIVE us a reason to go fishing,” is the message to the Tasmanian community from professional anglers desperate to get back on the water.
Buying local seafood has never been more important, according to the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council (TSIC), which is preparing a coronavirus recovery plan for the almost $1 billion sector.
“Without restaurants and cafes and without people buying to cook at home, our members can’t go out to work,” TSIC chief executive Julian Harrington said.
7pm yesterday: OPPOSITION CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF FEMALE WORKERS
THE State Opposition wants to see more jobs and better employment protection for women as Tasmania starts to recover from the coronavirus downturn.
“Women have been hit harder by COVID-19 because they often have that part-time or casual job, that job in the retail or hospitality sector,” Opposition spokeswoman for women Michelle O’Byrne said.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data released last week showed female employee jobs in Tasmania fell 9.7 per cent between March 14 and April 18, compared with a 6.1 per cent drop in jobs for male employees.
Experts push for double shot as new Covid wave looms
As deaths from Covid continue, Tasmanians are being urged to get boosters and flu shots with doctors saying infection rates are “taking off and complacency is setting in”. LATEST FIGURES >>
Covid-safety urged as daily case numbers decline
The pace of Tasmania’s winter Covid wave is slowing but the public is urged to remain vigilant. LATEST FIGURES >>