Crowds to increase as international arrivals roll in, sporting matches to operate at 75 per cent capacity

Tasmania’s churches have been given a timely one-week exemption from COVID-19 restrictions to allow more people to attend services, as other restrictions are rolled back for summer. LATEST >>

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TASMANIA’S churches have been given a timely one-week exemption from COVID-19 restrictions to allow more people to attend services during one of the holiest times of year for Christians.

Premier Peter Gutwein has announced a temporary easing of restrictions on churches an religious services to allow the admission of 75 per cent of their seated capacity for one weeks from Sunday.

The changes were accompanied by a similar loosening of restrictions on theatres, cinemas and outdoor sports venues.

And the government has announced measures to underwrite live performance venues for the risk of cancellations in the event of a new outbreak.

Archbishop Julian Porteous. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Mr Gutwein said the exemptions for church and other religious venues would remain in place for one week before being reviewed.

Catholic Archbishop Julian Porteous said the church had established an online booking system so anyone who wants to attend Christmas Mass will be able to do so.

“Already some of our Masses have been fully booked, so we are grateful to the government for granting a further easing of restrictions that allow our churches to accept up to 75 per cent of their capacity,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania said while the restrictions had been challenging for their churches, they had gladly followed them “for the safety of all Tasmanians.”

“The announcement is welcome news to churches and communities as we plan to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas – we will continue to closely follow all established protocols to protect everyone’s health and wellbeing,” the spokeswoman said.

THIS WEEK’S COVID-19 NEED-TO-KNOW:

• Seasonal workers who arrived from Timor Leste will be released from quarantine on Thursday morning after recording no positive tests,
• A flight of seasonal workers from COVID-free Tonga will arrive on December 18.
• A second round of testing of returning Australians being housed in a Hobart quarantine hotel has revealed no further positive cases and they will be released for onward travel on Sunday.
• A second repatriation flight from India will arrive in Hobart on January 8.

Mr Gutwein said Tasmania remained one of the safest places on the planet and thanked Tasmanians for their efforts to help contain the virus.

He said a vaccine would not be available in here until around March.

“We will prioritise those most at risk of complications or death from the virus, people with pre-existing respiratory illnesses, those in residential aged care settings and older Australians being in the first phase,” he said

“And then obviously we will look to health workers and others as we move forward. It would be our intention to move as swiftly as we can.”

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mr Gutwein said he would take the vaccine, but said he was not planning to jump the queue.

Arts Minister Elise Archer said details of the scheme to help live performance venues would be announced soon.

“This program will be an insurance or underwriting scheme if you like and while details of that scheme are being finalised, it will be confirmed in the New Year, it will be supported by $2 million package with companies to apply for up to $100,000 in relation to a specific performance or season of activities, should it not be able to proceed due to reintroduced COVID-19 restrictions,” she said.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said the challenge around reopening theatres and cinemas was as much about managing crowds at the arriving and leaving performances as it was about bums in seats.

“Maybe you try and break down the traditional Tasmanian strategy of arriving five minutes before the bells start ringing so you actually have people arriving in time frames that enable them to be moved more evenly into the cinema and having a process for getting them out,” he said.

“And also there needs to be a process for managing the choc tops and the chardonnay at the interval — there needs to be a way of doing that without too much crowding.”

EARLIER: WITH one wave of international seasonal workers here and another expected on before the end of the month, the government is confident they pose little threat.

East Timorese workers have arrived in the state’s North with none returning a positive case.

Another group of Tongan workers are expected in the coming weeks, but Premier Peter Gutwein said it was the government’s understanding that the island nation had not recorded a case during pandemic.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Chris Kidd

Churches and religious organisations will join the eased restrictions – albeit briefly – with 75 per cent seating capacity starting this Sunday until the December 27 when they will be reviewed.

REWATCH THE UPDATE >>

Premier Gutwein praised the latest management of Big Bash in regards to crowd management, and said from January 1, outdoor sports events will also move to 75 per cent of seated capacity

As for the vaccine rollout as per the national standard, those most at risk – older Australians and health workers will be prioritised.

During a visit yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said; “Australia will have the vaccine in the first quarter of next year.”

However, the state will not be rushing into a vaccination like the US and UK.

“We’re not in the same circumstances as they are,” Premier Gutwein said.

He also said he would have the vaccine as a “show of confidence” but would not queue jump in front of those in need.

Mr Gutwein praised the exceptional efforts Tasmanians and frontline workers for their hard work during the pandemic, while reinforcing the need to remain vigilant

“We are one of the safest places on the planet,” he said.

More to come...

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