Tasmanians over 30 now eligible for Pfizer Covid vaccination

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THOUSANDS of people in Tasmania will be subject to stay-at-home orders and only allowed to leave for a select few reasons, amid serious concerns over the Queensland Covid outbreak.

Tasmania slammed shut its border to 11 local government areas in south east Queensland as the mainland state entered a snap three-day lockdown following new Covid-19 cases.

More than 11,000 travellers have arrived in Tasmania since July 17, which is defined as the possible infectious risk period in Queensland, and those that are still here have to isolate.

The stay-at-home order started at 6pm on Saturday and will last for at least three days, with only a few reasons they can leave and if they do, they must wear a mask.

These are for essential shopping or exercise within 5km of home, medical care needs, or attending work or study where they could not do so from home.

Further advice for school-aged children affected by the order is being finalised, with more information expected to be provided on Sunday.

Premier Peter Gutwein speaks to the media at a press briefing.

But an AFL match in Launceston between Hawthorn and Brisbane will proceed on Sunday, despite Lions players flying into Tasmania from the Queensland capital on Saturday morning.

Public Health acting director Scott McKeown said authorities were worried about the potential risk posed by travellers from Queensland.

“We are concerned,’’ he said.

“We believe this risk is so significant that we need to ensure that these people remain at home under this order.

“I understand how difficult and disruptive it will be, but it’s absolutely crucial for you to comply with these orders to ensure that you keep yourself, your family and the community safe in Tasmania.”

Premier Peter Gutwein said Tasmania’s response reflected how seriously the state was treating the Delta variant of the virus.

“This is not a drill,’’ he said. “This is serious.”

Dr McKeown said a full quarantining of the returned travellers was considered, but was determined to not be proportionate to the risk.

Meanwhile, authorities are satisfied it is safe to allow the AFL match involving the Brisbane Lions to proceed, saying clubs operated in a “sterile corridor” and were tested regularly

“I couldn’t care less whether it’s a bad look or not, to be frank. I’m acting on public health advice,’’ Mr Gutwein said when asked whether people would question the game going ahead given thousands of travellers will be under stay-at-home orders in Tasmania.

“We would not be doing this if we didn’t think it was safe.” The Premier then went on to say he understood some people may think it was not fair, but said AFL players were subject to strict requirements, lived within a bubble and would not have any contact with the public.

Dr McKeown said there was a far greater potential risk in the crowd, which was why a cap of 10,000 people and wearing of masks had been implemented.

Dr McKeown said a full quarantining of the returned travellers was considered, but was determined to not be proportionate to the risk.

Agencies including Tasmania Police will be tasked to conduct compliance checks on people subject to the stay-at-home order.

Those affected by the order who are booked in for Covid vaccinations in the coming days were asked to phone the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to reschedule.

Tasmanians shuts to Brisbane after Qld calls snap lockdown

TASMANIA is expected to shut its border to 11 Queensland local government areas this afternoon as the mainland state goes into a snap lockdown.

Premier Peter Gutwein said on Saturday morning that the Public Health direction would apply from 4pm on Saturday, with further advice expected during the day.

But the AFL match between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions in Launceston on Sunday will go ahead, the Premier said.

AFL.com.au has reported Brisbane was allowed to land in Tasmania on Saturday morning after a short holdup on the tarmac.

Brisbane played a match at the Gabba last weekend but Mr Gutwein said because the team was already in Tasmania, the risk to the state was considered low.

“The advice I’m getting is we’re confident the game can go ahead, on the basis that the players have already left Brisbane as I understand it,’’ he said.

“They are on a charter flight, they’ve been in a bubble and my understanding is they’ve been tested twice now in the last four days.

“At this stage, the game is going ahead but we’ll take further advice throughout the course of the day from Public Health.”

Mr Gutwein said it was expected Tasmania’s border with those Queensland regions would be a level 2 set of restrictions.

“For those Tasmanians that are still in Brisbane at the moment, they will be able to come back and they will need to quarantine at suitable premises, either at their own home or in government accommodation,’’ he said.

“At the moment, our deputy director of Public Health is on a hook up with AHPPC [Australian Health Protection Principal Committee] and taking advice directly from the Queensland chief health officer on that.”

The Premier said there would be further information later on Saturday about travellers who have entered Tasmania from Queensland in recent days.

“We’ll provide further advice in terms of what, if any, restrictions might apply to people who have entered the state in the past few days from Queensland from those 11 affected LGAs, but people will be contacted,’’ Mr Gutwein said.

“As I’ve said on many occasions, we have the best border controls in the country.

“We’ll be sending out texts this afternoon to those people that are affected.”

The LGAs are as follows:

• Brisbane City
• Moreton Bay Regional Council
• Gold Coast
• Ipswich
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council
• Logan City
• Noosa Shire Council
• Redland City
• Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Somerset Regional Council
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Tasmanians over 30 now eligible for Pfizer vax, Friday July 30

VOUCHERS worth $300 are up for grabs for Tasmanian households, with a ballot system opening for registrations next week.

The latest round of the travel scheme to support the state’s tourism and hospitality businesses is worth $7.5m.

Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Friday that Tasmanians could claim $200 for accommodation and $100 for tourism experiences or rental car hire.

Tasmanians can register their interest for a voucher by phone or email from August 5 to 9, with successful recipients to be notified on August 12.

One voucher will be available per household but unlike the previous two rounds, they will be allocated via a ballot system to make the process fairer.

“An estimated $27.5 million in additional spending is estimated to have been generated across the State through last year’s scheme, and we expect this latest round to be just as successful, providing vital support for the industry at a challenging time,’’ Mr Gutwein said.

A website will be launched next week with more information on the program, while a hotline will be available for when registrations open.

Expanding the vaccination rollout

Mr Gutwein said about 44% of Tasmanians have had their first dose of Covid-19 vaccinations.

“From Monday vaccination centres will start to take all eligible people over the age of 16 and all eligible people over the age of 30 will be able to book a vaccination and there are spots available in August,” the premier said.

“We will be opening up to people to be vaccinated over the age of 30 and you will be able to call and book tomorrow moving forward.”

Health Secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said Tasmania’s vaccination program was “gathering pace”.

“As of the 29th of July we have delivered more than 314,991 doses across Tasmania,” she said.

“In our older age groups more than 83% of people aged 70 years and over have received a first dose and more than 45% have been fully vaccinated.

“Community pharmacies will also be shortly joining in and with an increase of Pfizer available to both the state and our gps we are gathering pace.

“This is absolutely the right time to introduce to our 63,000 30-39-year-olds to our vaccination rollout.”

Ms Morgan-Wicks said they had 11,000 extra appointments have just been added in the last hour.

“So that is 6000 extra in Hobart, 2000 extra in the north west and 3000 which are available in Launceston,” she said.

“We will soon welcome more than 20 pharmacies to the effort.”

Ms Morgan-Wicks said a new vaccination clinic would soon come online in South Launceston, with expanded capacity in Burnie and Ulverstone, while there are also plans for a Bruny Island centre late next month.

Ms Morgan-Wicks said virus outbreaks in other states should serve as a reminder to Tasmanians of the danger posed by Covid-19.

“We can all see what is happening in NSW and their race to vaccinate ahead of the Deltra strain,’’ she said.

“We do not want to see this in Tasmania, so lease book yourself, book your family members in and protect your loved ones and the community against Covid-19.”

The Premier encouraged Tasmanians to book in their vaccination appointment.

“We know we will be living with this virus for some time yet, particularly as new strains like Delta emerge, and we need to ensure we remain alert and responsive,’’ he said.

“Most importantly, we want as many eligible adults as possible to get vaccinated in Tasmania.”

Tasmania continues to lead the nation with the vaccination effort, with more than 47 per cent of eligible Tasmanians having received their first dose and 23 per cent fully vaccinated.

This is compared to about 39 per cent and 17 per cent nationally, respectively.

Ms Morgan-Wicks said from September 21, it would be a condition of employment for those working in aged care to have had at least one dose of the vaccine.

AFL fans to celebrate

COLLINGWOOD will play its first ever AFL match for premiership points in Tasmania next weekend, with confirmation the Magpies will take on Hawthorn in Launceston next weekend.

The game at UTAS Stadium, which was intended to be played in Melbourne but relocated due to Covid-19 restrictions in the mainland state, will be capped at 10,000 spectators.

The time slot for the fixture is yet to be announced by the league.

It comes as the state prepares to host two matches in Hobart and Launceston this weekend, with a Covid-capacity sell-out being achieved for both games.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the state was pleased to be able to host another high-profile club, following a bumper crowd for the Hawthorn-Essendon match earlier this season.

“As we saw earlier this year, if you bring the big clubs to Tasmania, we will turn up, and I expect tickets will be snapped up in a heartbeat as footy fans take the opportunity to see these this history-making clash between two big Victorian teams in action,’’ he said.

Everyone aged over 12 will be required to wear a mask at this weekend’s matches unless they had an exemption.

Public Health Director Dr Veitch encouraged all attendees at the weekend’s matches to practice Covid-safe behaviours.