Two travellers caught illegally entering state on first day of Tasmania’s border reopening

Tasmanian border authorities have caught two travellers arriving into the state without the correct vaccination status or travel permits on the first day of open borders. LATEST >>

TASMANIAN border authorities have caught two travellers coming into Launceston airport without the correct vaccination status or travel permits on the first day of open borders.

Inspector John Toohey said most of those who landed in Tasmania’s four main airports did the right thing but two passengers had been cautioned.

One was an unvaccinated passenger from Adelaide who did not have approval to enter Tasmania.

The other was an international traveller who arrived from Adelaide without the necessary approvals.

Launceston Airport.

The domestic passenger has been sent back to Adelaide. The international arrival has gone into hotel quarantine.

Both have been cautioned.

“We are taking an educational approach at the moment but people who blatantly break the rules will be fined and/or arrested,” Inspector Toohey said.

He said border control officers appreciated the travelling public’s patience as checks were made.

“There were some delays. At Launceston 150 people came through on three flights and they were processed in 45 minutes,” he said.

He said there were no health concerns for the other passengers on the planes from Adelaide on which the two breachers were caught.

‘Patients will possibly be treated in a tent’ if Covid cases explode

Tasmanians in need of medical attention could find themselves being assessed in a tent in an ambulance loading dock if community transmission of Covid spikes now our border has reopened.

On Tuesday an outdoor triage area was set up outside the Royal Hobart Hospital emergency department in a space ordinarily occupied by ramped ambulances.

Breaking News Breaking News Outdoor triage area set up at the RHH on Tuesday

State Health Commander Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said the areas would only be used if community transmission increased pressure on the hospital.

She said the area would provide more room for assessment and screenings of patients outside of the emergency department.

“These areas are being put in place now as part of our health system preparedness but will only be used in the event community transmission is present,” Ms Morgan-Wicks said.

“There will be no changes for patients presenting to EDs until that happens.”

Similar areas will be put in place at the Mersey Community Hospital and the North West Regional Hospital.

State Health Commander, Kathrine Morgan-Wicks. Picture: Mireille Merlet

The triage areas will take up eight on-street parking spaces for the foreseeable future.

It means ambulances will instead be required to park on Argyle Street between Liverpool and Bathurst, further away from the emergency department entrance.

“Under this scenario, a patient will be delivered to the external triage area and the ambulance will be parked on Argyle St,” Ms Morgan Wicks said.

“Ambulances are able to continue to safely and quickly transport emergency patients to the ED, with some changes to Ambulance parking zones following offload.”

Shadow health minister Anita Dow believed the new triage arrangement would increase pressure on paramedics.

“We already know from the incident last week where a very ill child had to be transported by police rather than paramedics that ambulance crews are at breaking point,” she said.

Ms Morgan-Wicks said the areas would play a vital role if they were required.

“Our health system is ready for Tasmania’s border reopening and it will continue to provide the very best in health care to all Tasmanians,” she said.