Tasmanians are relishing being able to stand up and drink at pubs and clubs once again
Revellers are relishing being able to stand and drink inside pubs and clubs once again. FOLLOW LIVE >>
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BAN LIFTED!
REVELLERS are relishing being able to stand and drink inside pubs and clubs once again.
A ban on dancing and stand-up drinking was lifted at 5pm yesterday, with punters quick to indulge in the easing of restrictions.
Under the changes, businesses are now permitted to hold up to 100 people at indoor venues, and 250 people at outdoor venues.
It comes after the state government eased restrictions on vertical drinking in outdoor areas of venues on November 13.
When the clock struck 5pm today, patrons at Salamanca bar The Den cheered as the venue blasted 1980s classic Safety Dance by Men Without Hats.
There to celebrate her recent engagement was Emily Atkins with friend Sarah French.
The pair of nurses said the easing of restrictions brought with it more incentive to go out for a drink.
“It’s just nice to be able to come out and catch up with your friends in a more relaxed environment now,” Ms Atkins said.
“We haven’t done it all year so it’s nice to get out again.”
The Den manager Jacinta Drake said there was abuzz a the bar last night that hadn’t been seen in months.
“The atmosphere has changed dramatically and we’re stoked that the restrictions have lifted in time for Christmas,” she said.
“It makes people happy. We know people have been staying home having house parties so hopefully the changes will further encourage people to come back out.”
BUSINESSES REACT:
THE GRAND Poobah owner Juno Shaw “couldn’t believe it” when the Premier announced Tasmania would welcome dancing and vertical drinking back to its venue floorson Friday.
“Nearly every DJ in town started calling me so I figured the news must be true,” Ms Shaw said.
The Grand Poobah on Liverpool St, Hobart had its business model revolve around dancing when COVID-19 disrupted the nightclub.
“We’ve had to do the best we can but it is a drag being the fun police,” she said.
“It’ll be a lot easier on the staff, security and police now. It’s also great for people to have a dance after so long.”
Up to 100 people at a time can dance or vertical drink in a venue from Friday.
But with new rules and regulations come new responsibilities.
“I was really excited when the news first came in but then I started to think about all the things that could go wrong, there’s a lot to think about because we’ve only got a day and a half to sort it all out,” Ms Shaw said.
“But we’ve got this far, I’m sure we’ll make it work.”
With some DJs previously mellowing their mixes and lighting choices to discourage dancing, Ms Shaw hoped the new rules would foster higher energy music and more exciting events.
“It’s been such a hard year it’s good to take it out with a bit of fun,” she said.
“People are going to lose their minds.”
EARLIER: TASMANIA it’s time to get your boogie on again as Premier Peter Gutwein announced the easing of the controversial ‘dance ban’.
From 5pm Friday, dancing and stand up drinking will be permitted by up to 100 people at indoor venues, and 250 people at outdoor venues.
This comes as Mr Gutwein announced another COVID-19 case in hotel quarantine after a mercy flight from Delhi, India on Sunday.
The new case bumped Tasmania’s COVID-19 tally up to 232, after 120 days virus-free.
REWATCH THE UPDATE LIVE AT 9.30AM >>
“Yesterday we announced three positive cases identified from one family unit from the chartered flight that landed on Sunday,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Today I can confirm that the other member of the family has testived positive with mild symptoms.
The other three family members will be moved form the Royal Hobart Hospital to Fountainside today.
“These positive cases do not mean that Tasmania has COVID-19 in our community, far from it ... our quarantine system is working,” Mr Gutwein said.
Alongside the announcement of the fresh case, Mr Gutwein announced the easing of caps in family homes, increasing from 40 to 100 from 5pm on Friday.
“Following Public Health advice I want to confirm something I know many Tasmanians have been waiting a long period of time for,” he said.
“From 5pm tomorrow there will be some additional easing of restrictions.
“Firstly gathering in homes will increase from 40 to 100 ... but please remember to be COVID-safe.
“Dancing and stand up drinking will be permitted by up to 100 people at indoor venues and 250 people at outdoor venues from this Friday at 5pm.”
Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said the new infection is from the same family as yesterday’s three cases and refuted claims the government succumbed to pressure from the hospitality sector to ease bans.
“The man was retested yesterday after reporting mild symptoms,” he said.
“The man is being moved by ambulance to the dedicated facility at the Fountainside Hotel, following onsite clinical assessment at the Best Western.
“The other three members of that family will also be moved to Fountainside to continue their quarantine and recovery process.”
Dr Veitch emphasised that no staff involved in the arrival, transport or quarantine processes have been isolated, as Public Health advice is that any interactions have been in accordance with the infection prevention and control protocols.
Since the arrival of the flight on Sunday, all 118 returned Australians have undergone their first COVID test, and four have been diagnosed positive, all from the one family.
“This does not mean that Tasmania has COVID-19 in our community,” Dr Veitch said.
EARLIER: PREMIER Peter Gutwein will update Tasmania after the state broke its 120-day virus-free streak yesterday, when three repatriated Australians were diagnosed with COVID-19 in hotel quarantine.
The three new cases bring Tasmania’s coronavirus tally to 231.
Mr Gutwein said the coronavirus cases were expected, given the high risk nature of international travel and repatriating stranded Australians.
“We’ve expected this day to happen, we said right through this in terms of doing our bit to support the Australian effort to bring Australians back from overseas that there is a likelihood we would see cases,” he said.
“Three recent international arrivals, currently in our isolation hotel in the Best Western, have tested positive for COVID-19.”
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