Government works on response to Victorian COVID-19 cases
Tasmanian Health Minister Sarah Courtney says the government is imposing immediate restrictions on travellers from nine Victorian coronavirus hotspots, but the border will not be shut entirely. SEE THE HOTSPOTS + LATEST ON CASE NUMBERS AND BORDERS>>
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JANUARY 2
2PM:
Tasmanian Health Minister Sarah Courtney says the government is imposing immediate restrictions on travellers from nine Victorian coronavirus hotspots, but would not be shutting the border entirely to either that state or New South Wales.
Anyone travelling to Tasmania from the following hotspots, including Tasmanians returning home, will be required to go into hotel quarantine for 14 days:
- Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant at Black Rock
- Royal Brighton Yacht Club at Brighton
- Sons of Mary restaurant, Brighton
- Holy Family Parish at Doveton
- Village Cinemas Century City at Glen Waverley
- Albert and Co. Café and Bellevue Hotel at Lakes Entrance
- Esplanade Resort at Lakes Entrance — both the pool area and hotel bar
- Woodlands Golf Club in Mordialloc
“I want to be very clear that those sites have all been declared high risk by the Tasmanian government,” Ms Courtney said.
She defended the government’s decision to allow travel from some parts of NSW while other states had shut the border completely.
She said the stance was consistent with previous border measures in that it was in line with public health advice and “commensurate with the risk”.
12PM: Interstate COVID outbreaks have opposition parties fearing Tasmania’s border restrictions are too lax as other states shut to NSW and Victoria.
Green Leader Cassy O’Connor said in light of growing COVID outbreaks in those two states, current restrictions in Tasmania were “not cautious enough”.
She said there were legitimate questions around why there weren’t stronger restrictions on travellers from greater NSW, and some restrictions on Victoria.
“It would be a tragedy if all the hard work and sacrifices Tasmanians made to contain the virus were undone by a more lax approach,” she said.
“Is short term economic benefit being prioritised over community health and longer term economic health?
“Tasmanians concerned about the health of their loved ones, and the public hospital system’s capacity to cope with a local outbreak, have a right to know.”
Labor leader Rebecca White also urged the government to shut the border with New South Wales completely.
“We need to make sure that we protect our community. We have a vulnerable population, we have a health system that is already stretched to capacity, we’ve got a public health workforce who are exhausted. We can’t afford to see further outbreaks occur here in Tasmania,” Ms White said.
Victoria has recorded 10 locally acquired cases, as well as two more from overseas, were diagnosed in the past 24 hours to midnight December 1, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Saturday morning.
The 10 cases included a pair who travelled to NSW and were tested there. In total there are 29 active cases in the state.
In NSW, seven new cases have been identified, four of those were linked to the home of an existing case, premier Gladys Berejiklian announced in her Saturday morning press conference.
Meanwhile, Queensland acquired one new case, a traveller returning from overseas.
Tasmania remains at zero active cases.
OVERNIGHT
LABOR has called on the state government to close the borders to keep Tasmanians safe from the spread of COVID-19 interstate.
Tasmania presently has the laxest border restrictions in the nation as all states bar Queensland have closed off travel from New South Wales, which is dealing with an outbreak.
Western Australia has also closed is border to Victoria as well.
Queensland, the ACT and the NT, which are allowing some travel — have all restricted movement from a larger part of the greater Sydney region than Tasmania.
Tasmania presently allows quarantine-free travel from NSW, except for council areas in greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong has now been added to the quarantine list.
Visitors who have visited a number of Victorian hot spots have been also asked to self-isolate.
NSW announced five additional cases on Friday, Victoria announced none.
Labor leader Rebecca White said it was time for the borders to close.
“The Tasmanian Government should act now to ensue Tasmania stays COVID-free,” she said.
“With community transmission of the virus in New South Wales and with new cases in Victoria, the government should follow the lead of other states and close our borders to NSW to keep Tasmanians safe.”
But Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said there were presently no plans to close Tasmania’s borders and the government was following the advice of public health officials.
“We’re watching the interstate figures extremely closely. We’re taking advice from public health authorities here in Tasmania,” he said.
“The current advice is that our arrangements that we have in place with quarantine arrangements for Greater Sydney continue.
“We’re not looking right now at advice to change that but if circumstances change, we’ll of course, do whatever is required to make sure that we continue to protect Tasmanians.”
Mr Ferguson said there was no hesitancy on the part of the government to reintroduce restrictions on travel if required.
“If the situation demanded a different border response to protect Tasmanians, we would follow that advice.
“At the moment, that is not the case, things are being well managed but at the same time, we are having some quite strict quarantine arrangements currently in place currently in force, which are continuing in respect of Greater Sydney.”
Mr Ferguson told reporters that social distancing measures currently in place were designed to contain the spread of any cases which did arrive.
“Tasmanians should feel safe but also we should continue to be reminded the reason that we have continuing social distancing rules here in Tasmania is nothing to do with the fact that we have zero cases of community infection and transmission in our state.
“It’s to protect against outbreaks that may arrive. So we need to just continue to feel safe, but also act safe.”
Anyone currently in Tasmania who has been in the Wollongong LGA on or after December 18, 2020 should contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 for further advice. If they currently have or recently had cold or flu-like symptoms they should self-isolate until receiving advice.
Travellers who have arrived in Tasmania having spent time in New South Wales since Sunday, December 6 are asked to continue to check the list of exposure risk sites.
EARLIER: TASMANIA will enter the New Year without ramping up restrictions on interstate travel despite Victoria and South Australia announcing border closures.
New South Wales announced 10 new COVID-19 cases including five linked to the Avalon cluster while Victoria recorded five new cases.
South Australia will close its borders to all NSW travellers at midnight.
Victoria will close its borders at the same time to visitors from the Blue Mountains or Wollongong, adding those regions to the declared “red zones” of Greater Sydney and the Central Coast – matching the ACT’s restrictions.
Western Australia has deemed both NSW and Victoria to be medium risk state and has closed its borders to non-essential quarantine-free travel.
Queensland closed its border to any traveller from Greater Sydney and the Blue Mountains on December 22 – restrictions which are the same as those currently in place in Tasmania.
The Northern Territory has banned travellers from Sydney’s Northern Beaches only.
Following a meeting of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee earlier today Health Minister Sarah Courtney there were no fresh changes to announce.
“With regard to the current outbreaks in New South Wales and Victoria, Public Health continue to meet daily with their interstate counterparts and will continue to monitor the situation over the next 24 hours and won’t hesitate to take any necessary steps to keep Tasmanians safe,” she said.
Acting Director of Public Health Scott McKeown asked anyone who had visited any of eight Victorian hot spots to get in touch with health authorities.
“Travellers who have arrived in Tasmania having spent time in Victoria since Sunday 20 December are asked to check the list of exposure risk sites at least twice daily on the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website,” he said.
“These travellers are also being contacted by SMS to ask them to regularly check this list.
“Anyone in Tasmania who has been at one of these sites is asked to immediately self-isolate.”
The Tasmanian Government's website listing the current travel restrictions was last updated on December 23.
Every state bar NSW is listed as low-risk with no restrictions on travel.
As of December 17, the Northern Beaches local government area was listed as high risk, meaning only essential travellers can enter the state and retuning Tasmanians must spend two weeks in home quarantine.
An update on December 19, listed 33 Greater Sydney and Blue Mountains local government areas as medium risk.
Travellers already in the state on that date were asked to monitor their symptoms, but new arrivals have been required to quarantine.
Ms Courtney urged Tasmanians to see in the New Year safely.
“This means maintaining social distancing, adhering to current gathering restrictions and not congregating in large crowds to watch the fireworks around the State,” she said.
“Tasmanians have done an outstanding job in responding to COVID-19 this year, and we need to ensure we keep on top of COVID-19 throughout the holiday season, particularly on New Year’s Eve.
“We are encouraging Tasmanians to show common sense, as well as restraint and respect for others, when it comes to bringing in the New Year.
“We would encourage revellers to keep the displays of affection to close family and friends only, maintain physical distancing and practice other COVID-19-safe behaviours through the night.”
EARLIER: TASMANIAN health authorities have confirmed they are closely monitoring new locally-acquired coronavirus cases in Victoria which were identified in the Melbourne area.
Three new cases were detected on Wednesday, with another three detected since then.
“As part of the initial Victorian public health response, risk locations have been identified,” a Public Health Tasmania statement read.
The Victorian government has rushed to introduce new restrictions.
From 5pm, the limit of people allowed in Victorian homes will be halved from 30 to 15, potentially throwing into chaos New Year’s Eve plans for people who had been urged to celebrate with friends and family at home.
Masks there will also be mandatory indoors from 5pm, without exception outside of private homes.
Current Melbourne locations on alert are as follows (Location – Site – Exposure Period):
- Black Rock – Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant – 21/12/20
- Doveton – Holy Family Parish Doveton Catholic – 26/12/20, 4:00pm-6:00pm
- Fountain Gate Shopping Centre – Kmart, Big W, Target, Millers, King of Gifts, Lacoste – 26/12/20, 9:00am-11:00am
- Glen Waverley – Century City Walk and Mocha Jo’s – 28/12/20, 1:30pm-5:00pm
- Oakleigh – Katialo restaurant, Eaton Mall – 28/12/20, 7:00pm-8:15pm
- Mentone – Mentone/Parkdale Beach – 27/12/20, 10:00am -4:30pm
Public health advises that anyone from Victoria who arrived in Tasmania in the past week should visit the Tasmanian Government coronavirus website and follow the advice provided if they any of the locations listed above.
“Tasmania will review the situation following tomorrow’s meeting of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) involving Public Health officials from all States and Territories,” the statement read.
“Public Health will respond as required to protect the Tasmanian community.”
Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms, even if mild, is reminded to self-isolate and call to organise a test.
Anyone who requires a test should call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
To stay up to date with any risk locations and advice, please visit the website: https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/
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