State Government to consider lifting COVID-19 restrictions this week

The State Government will this week consider lifting some Tasmanian coronavirus restrictions, but Premier Peter Gutwein warns the state’s journey out of lockdown will be slow.

VISITING relatives in aged care and access to beaches and parks are some of the coronavirus restrictions the State Government will this week consider lifting.

However, Premier Peter Gutwein said yesterday that Tasmania’s journey out of lockdown would be a slow, step-by-step process compared with other states.

“As we come out of this, I will make no apologies for having a glide path as opposed to the perhaps more aggressive steps that other states will take,” Mr Gutwein said.

Other states have begun gradually easing rules and nationwide restrictions will be reviewed by National Cabinet this Friday, a week earlier than planned, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying it is time to “restart the economy”.

NO NEWS CASES FROM NORTH-WEST COVID-19 CLUSTER

Mr Gutwein said State Cabinet would meet on Monday to consider lifting the ban on visits to aged care facilities, which is likely to provide some solace to families, particularly if the restrictions are eased by Mother’s Day.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

“Certainly (that is) something I think would be important for the wellbeing of the aged care resident but also their family,” Mr Gutwein said.

He said he would also like to see parks and beaches that are currently off-limits reopened “sooner rather than later”.

“A lot of Tasmanians have raised with me that they’d like to have access to their beach or their local reserve or their national park,” Mr Gutwein said.

“One of the things we need to be very cautious of here is that we don’t see large movements across our state.”

Additional restrictions in the North-West will be lifted as of midnight tomorrow, but Mr Gutwein reminded all Tasmanians the statewide rules remained in place.

“What that means is, you should still stay home. You should only go out for essential supplies, medical services, if you need to go to school or to work or to volunteer,” he said.

The Australian Medical Association is warning that Tasmania remains at risk of “multiple waves” of coronavirus.

Mr Gutwein said that was why he would not consider easing restrictions until Public Health authorities advise it is safe.

“With an older and more vulnerable population the last thing that we want to place the Tasmanian population in is a situation where a second wave hits or potentially a third wave,” Mr Gutwein said.

“We want to ensure we have all the necessary steps in place, which is testing, ensuring that we’ve got contact tracing and rapid response and importantly that as we open up businesses and other activities that COVID safety plans are in place.”

STATE ‘PLAYING CATCH UP’ TO CONTAIN VIRUS

Tasmanian tourism and hospitality lobby groups told the Sunday Tasmanian their members were desperate for at least a “ballpark” time frame on when they may be able to open.

“There’s frustration building up in the industry,” Hospitality Industry Association chief Steve Old said.

“Businesses are seeing what’s happening in other states and are now after some guidance on what that means for us.”

He said drinking venues also need advice on likely capacity limits once restrictions are eased.

Steve Old. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

“If venues are capped at 25 per cent capacity, there will be no point opening for a lot of businesses,” Mr Old said.

Tourism Industry Council chief Luke Martin said he respected and supported Mr Gutwein’s “hard line” stance, saying “we haven’t gone through all this grief to cock it up now”.

But Mr Martin called for more guidance locally in light of “mixed messaging” coming out of Canberra and from interstate.

“For the peace of mind, mental health and confidence of business operators the State Government needs to turn it up a notch when it comes to providing that surety and time frames,” Mr Martin said.

“We’re not expecting them to come out saying ‘It will be the first of June’, but businesses need to know ‘Is that light at the end of the tunnel weeks away, or is it months?’.”

He said regional businesses needed plenty of warning to prepare for when travel within Tasmania would be allowed.

“About a third of tourism operators are hoping to have some traffic from intrastate and they are gearing up for that to hopefully happen as soon as possible,” Mr Martin said.