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Tasmania
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TASMANIA’s long isolation is coming to an end.
Thirty-six weeks after the state shut its borders, the state’s coronavirus travel restrictions are expected to be totally lifted by the end of the month.
Premier Peter Gutwein on Wednesday announced the resumption of quarantine-free travel to Victoria from November 27 — bringing the date forward from December 1.
Declaring Victoria to presently be a “medium risk”, Mr Gutwein said that from Friday, incoming travellers from that state will be able to quarantine in their homes or in a designated residence or in hotel quarantine.
Travel from all other states has already resumed.
“I feel incredibly pleased that Victoria has been able to get on top of this virus,” he said. “Victoria is a very important part of the country’s economy but it’s a very important part of the social fabric for many Tasmanians as well, with family and friends there.
“The fact that they’ve had 12 days with zero cases is just outstanding.”
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch also praised the efforts of Victoria in bringing the state’s second wave outbreak under control.
“Victoria actually achieved something really extraordinary in bringing their outbreak of coronavirus under control,” he said.
“The efforts of the community and their public health agencies, and the government achieved something that few places in the world have managed during this pandemic.”
He said that his advice to government on reopening the borders was based on Victoria continuing to remain under five unexplained COVID-19 cases in a rolling 28 day period. The current figure is 1.
Mr Gutwein also said the first flight of Australians returning from overseas for quarantine in Hobart will arrive around November 22.
He said 120 passengers from India would arrive on a direct charter flight and would be accommodated at the Best Western hotel for the duration of their quarantine.
Other remaining restrictions to the state’s coronavirus measures are being wound back.
From this Friday, standing drinking will be allowed in hospitality venues, and household gathering limits will be lifted from 20 to 40.
Launceston Airport CEO Hans van Pelt welcomed the announcement as good news for the state’s tourism sector.
“The reopening of the Tasmania-Victoria border is huge as it unlocks travel with our largest inbound tourism market,” he said.
“The Launceston-Melbourne route is our busiest and we expect bookings to takeoff now that people in both states have a confirmed date to work with.”
A spokesman for Virgin Australia said four times a week services to form Hobart and Launceston to Melbourne would resume on November 27 and daily services would resume from December 14.
“The border announcement by the Tasmanian Government is welcome news and will allow us to bring more of our people back to work and customers the opportunity to reunite with friends and family this Christmas,” he said.
“We are seeing a lot of pent-up demand for Christmas and summer holiday travel, which is why we’re encouraging customers to book early.”
On November 27, it will be 250 days since Tasmanians were allowed to travel freely around Australia.
The government first shut the borders at midnight on March 20.
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