More restrictions may be rolled back during Stage 2, in time for the June long weekend

Premier Peter Gutwein has hinted at easing restrictions sooner than expected, if Tasmanians continue to adhere to social distancing and good hygiene. Find out what could be rolled back>>

PREMIER Peter Gutwein today hinted that Tasmanians may be allowed to visit their shacks for the June long weekend, but any decision to ease restrictions early will hinge on the results of coronavirus testing over the coming week.

The second stage of lifting rules designed to slow the spread of COVID-19 is set for June 15, but Premier Peter Gutwein said Tasmanians could be given an early mark.

The easing of the tough measures will see camping, overnight boating and stays at shacks allowed again, while gathering limits will increase to 20 people.

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Visits to shacks have been forbidden because of the risk of spreading the virus to smaller and more vulnerable communities, with a crackdown over the Easter holiday period as COVID-19 case numbers soared.

But with the long weekend approaching, Mr Gutwein said the restrictions would be reviewed next week to determine if they could be brought forward.

Premier Peter Gutwein speaks at the daily COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday 26th May 2020. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

He said it would depend on Public Health advice and the state’s coronavirus situation at the time, encouraging people to continue practising social distancing and good hygiene.

Mr Gutwein vowed that he would stick to the staged approach to lifting restrictions, using a sporting reference to describe the state’s emergence from the pandemic.

“In a football game, you’ve got to play out all four quarters. And if this were a football match, we’re now in the last quarter, we’ve now got the breeze at our back but it ain’t over until it’s over,’’ he said.

Break O’Day Mayor Mick Tucker said he agreed with the government’s cautious stance but said the time was now right for shack owners to be able to visit the regions again.

“We have to adapt but we can’t just run away and hide in a shell forever,’’ he said.

“We do need to take cautious and safe steps forward but we would embrace the opportunity to see our shackies back, bring their boats, go fishing and actually try to put some stimulus back into our economy.”

Cr Tucker said the municipality, which has not recorded any cases of coronavirus, was dependent on tourism.

Public Health Director Mark Veitch said spacing out the easing of restrictions enabled authorities to gain insight into their impact.

Dr Veitch said as the long weekend approached, officials would examine testing numbers and any positive cases to determine if some of the rules could be lifted early.

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“We wouldn’t be looking to make decisions about risky activities prematurely,’’ he said.

“The biggest risk is large numbers of people who don’t know each other mixing.

“The lowest risk is lower numbers of people who know each other getting together in a gathering and behaving responsibly with physical distancing.”

Dr Veitch said Tasmania has had seven cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in May so far, with only one in the past 10 days.

He said there were just eight active cases from the state’s total of 226 to date, with 16 close contacts of cases in quarantine.

Dr Veitch said he wanted to see more people coming forward for testing to give officials more confidence to ease restrictions.

In recent days, between 300 and 400 tests have been conducted daily but he wanted this to rise to between 600 and 700.