Hectic queues subside as Tasmania relaxes Covid-19 flight regulations

The hectic queues have subsided somewhat at Hobart Airport, as Tasmania relaxed its Covid-19 flight rules. Do you agree with the change? HAVE YOUR SAY + LATEST >>

THE hectic queues have subsided somewhat at Hobart Airport, as Tasmania relaxes its Covid-19 flight rules.

As of Wednesday, passengers no longer need to fill in paperwork and take a PCR test less than 72 hours before their scheduled departure.

The rule had caused some consternation for some visitors, since the PCR tests could sometimes take more than 72 hours to process.

Hobart Airport travellers and new travle

The new rules were a welcome change for Adelaide flyer Tim Green, who said they cut down on airport queues and sped up the process.

“It’s much easier than coming into Adelaide a year ago. It took almost an hour last time we entered the state,” Mr Green said.

“Now it’s very quick and efficient – we just had to show our vaccination certificate.

Even though it isn’t mandatory, Brisbane nan Teena Calvert took a rapid antigen test before the flight just to be doubly sure.

She came with her two-year-old grandson Lewis Spinks, who has extended family in Hobart who he has never met.

Hobart Airport travellers and new travle

“I want to introduce my grandson to everybody,” Mrs Calvert said.

“We’ll be spending two weeks with his mum’s twin sister and his sister. All my family will get to see Lewis.”

Tasmanian Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff criticised the government’s change on border entry rules.

“This is dangerous, it is denying the science and denying the reality of people who are infected with Covid and go on to have long-Covid, and of people who are in hospital and people who are in ICU,” she said.

Hobart Airport travellers and new travle

“How dare he (Premier Gutwein) try and pretend to Tasmanians that there is nothing to see here and we should learn to live with a global pandemic.”

The state government said it was sticking to its border plan.

“The Government quite clearly announced as part of the border opening plan that pre-travel testing would be in place for the first four weeks after opening and we are now at the five week point,” a statement said.

“This decision was based on public health advice and is part of our transition to living with Covid-19 and returning to a more normal way of life once this transition phase ends.”

Thomas Lee came from Brisbane to bid one last farewell to his hometown before packing up his belongings and moving to Queensland.

Hobart Airport travellers and new travle

“I’m coming back home to get the car and then driving back up to Queensland,” Mr Lee said.

“I was born and bred in Hobart, but our family aren’t down here any more and it’s better for the kids to be closer to the grandparents in Queensland.”

Big change to Tasmanian border rules - Tuesday, January 18

FROM midnight tonight fully vaccinated people travelling to Tasmania will not need to pass a Covid-19 test or register to travel to enter the State.

Unvaccinated travellers will still need to register their trip, quarantine on arrival and produce a negative Covid-19 test on day five of that isolation.

Premier Peter Gutwein made the announcement as Tasmania records just over 1300 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours and two people have been admitted to intensive care for treatment - one is on a ventilator.

Both patients are in their 70’s.

Public Health Director Mark Vietch provided a breakdown of the ages of the 25 people in hospital with Covid-19.

One is aged under 10, two are in their 20’s, four in their 30’s ,two in their 40’s, one aged in their 50’s, two in their 60’s, seven in 70’s and six aged 80 and above.

“We have had a bit over 1000 cases for over a week. I do not think we are quite at a peak. We would expect more hospitalisations in the coming days as some people get sick enough to need hospital care,” Dr Veitch said.

At the same time, two patients inside the Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe are now infected with the virus and investigations are underway to find the transmission source.

A fully-recovered Health Department head Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, who is back at work after catching the virus, said the infected patients were in a medical ward.

They have now been moved to the NWRH and the impacted medical ward at the MCH is closed .

All staff will be tested and the visitor log will be reviewed.

They were in a four-patient room. Another patient has now returned a positive result, one a negative and one was discharged and has been advised to be tested.

Mr Gutwein also confirmed schools will still go back on February 9 and Covid-safe return-to-school plans will be announced this week.

He said the number of new infections - 1310 overnight - was in line with expectations but hospitalisation rates are lower than feared.

“We will go through this transition stage and live with Covid like we do with the flu,” he said.

“But we will get to that phase in the coming months and restrictions like masks, isolation and other measures can be relaxed.”

Tasmania records second Covid ICU admission - Tuesday, January 18

ANOTHER person infected with Covid-19 in Tasmania is receiving emergency care in hospital.

There are now two patients in intensive care as the number of new Covid-19 infections climbs again after dropping back last week.

The state recorded 1310 new positive cases in the 24 hours to 10am taking the total of active cases to almost 6500.

About the same number (1258) were released from isolation after recovering from the virus taking the total number of people in Tasmania to become infected and get better to 13,672.

All up there are now 25 people in hospitals across Tasmania with Covid-19 with 12 being treated specifically for virus symptoms.

‘We’re just trying to make a living’: Tassie pub’s Covid chaos - Tuesday, January 18

HOBART hotelier Rob Wilson has laid bare the emotional toll of Covid on his pub, saying the reopening of state borders has cruelled his business as more people stay home for fear of catching the virus.

Mr Wilson said the three months before the December 15 reopening was the best business had been in half a decade.

“Business was booming. There were people everywhere and business was the best it had been in five years,” Hope and Anchor business manager Rob Wilson said.

Now, he says, the contrast could not be more stark, with customers few and far between and bookings totalling hundreds of people cancelled in recent weeks.

“There’s so much uncertainty ... Tasmania is based on an older demographic and people are just not wanting to go out,’’ said Mr Wilson, who has run the pub since 2013.

“We’ve got no one sitting on our tables now.

“It’s desperate times, we’re going to have to start doing home deliveries. We have to do something to try and survive.”

Hope and Anchor venue manager Rob Wilson. Picture: Richard Jupe

Mr Wilson said the “final insult” for the Hope and Anchor on Macquarie St, known as Australia’s oldest continuously running pub, was news that City Hall just across the road could become a centre for Covid-positive patients to attend.

He said the first he knew of the plan was reading about it in the media.

“Who is going to want to come to a hotel and sit here when you’ve got 50 or 60 people over there with Covid?”,’’ he said.

“[The pub] survives two world wars and everything else, and this bloody virus comes along and nearly kills us. It’s crazy.”

Mr Wilson said while he acknowledged some areas of the hospitality industry were in favour of state borders reopening before Christmas, he was “totally against it”.

“Our business was in its prime, prior to that announcement,’’ he said.

“From that day onwards, we had cancellation after cancellation.

“Business confidence is the worst I’ve seen in 20 years.”

Hope and Anchor venue manager Rob Wilson. Picture: Richard Jupe

Mr Wilson, who has been receiving treatment recently for cancer, also said he was concerned about the risk of Covid-19 to himself and his staff and customers.

“We can’t see light at the end of the tunnel. There’s got to be some sort of package or assistance announced to help the hospitality industry,’’ he said.

“We’re just a small business trying to make a living.”

Mr Wilson did acknowledge previous government support packages during Covid had helped his business.

Last week, the state government announced a business support program to help businesses impacted since borders reopened, including staff unavailability due to Covid-19 or a significant downturn in trade.

The first tranche of the program will be for businesses that have been impacted during the period from December 15 to January 14, with funding of up to $5000 for eligible businesses.

The state government and City of Hobart have reached an agreement for City Hall to be made available as a contingency for Covid-19 patients to attend if needed.

State Health Commander Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said the City Hall would be stood up if Covid-specific ward space was required.

“The agreement will allow the Department of Health to prepare and set up facilities to conduct appointments for people who have tested positive and require a face to face appointment,’’ she said.

“It eliminates the need to attend the Royal Hobart Hospital.

“Covid-19 outpatient appointments are currently conducted within the Covid-19 ward in K Block at the Royal Hobart Hospital as there is currently available space due to lower levels of Covid-19 admissions.”

Live music venue suspends operations amid Covid spread - Monday, January 17

A POPULAR Tasmanian live music venue has suspended its shows and a council has decided to return to zoom meetings as Covid-19 continues to spread through the Tasmanian community.

The number of new cases has again surpassed 1000 a day with 1037 positive results recorded in the 24 hours to 10am.

One infected person remains in ICU while another six are in hospital across the State specifically due to Covid-19 symptoms.

Live at the Wharf – which attracts solid crows to its live music events in Ulverstone – said it had “regretfully” suspended its shows due to the rapid escalation of the Omicron variant.

“We have real concerns for the health and safety of our patrons. We hope to return on February 4 but will monitor the situation,” Live at the Wharf said.

Kingborough Council has announced it will be holding online meetings until further notice.

“These meetings will be streamed live on YouTube and available, post meetings, for viewing at any time,” the council said.

“Members of the public are still able to submit any questions on notice through the following channels: Email to [e-mail], online at https://www.kingborough.tas.gov.au/council/council-meetings and in hard copy addressed to the General Manager, Kingborough Council, 15 Channel Highway, Kingston, 7050.