Article
COVID-19 update – Northern Territory, Facemasks
Media release – Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, 29 June 2021
COVID-19 update – Northern Territory
The Tasmanian Director of Public Health has declared the Local Government Area of Alice Springs as a high-risk area following the start of a three-day lockdown announced by Northern Territory authorities today.
The declaration came into effect at 3pm today (Wednesday 30 June).
Anyone who has been in Alice Springs on or since 25 June will not be permitted to enter Tasmania unless approved as an essential traveller by the Deputy State Controller.
Anyone who is already in Tasmania and was in Alice Springs on or since 25 June does not need to quarantine but must monitor themselves for symptoms. If they experience any cold or flu-like symptoms, even mildly, they must immediately self-isolate and contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange testing.
Other high-risk LGAs in the NT are Darwin, Palmerstone, and Litchfield.
Other high-risk LGAs in the NT are Darwin, Palmerstone, and Litchfield.
There are also several high-risk premises listed for the NT, including the Alice Springs Airport Café on Friday 25 June 2021 from 9.20am to 3.50pm. Anyone who has been at any of these premises at the specified date and time will not be permitted to enter Tasmania. The list of premises is available at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/
Queensland
High-risk declarations came into effect at 6pm yesterday for 13 LGAs in Queensland.
The declarations apply to: the City of Brisbane, the City of Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay Region, Redland City, Sunshine Coast Region, Shire of Noosa, Somerset Region, Lockyer Valley Region, Scenic Rim Region, City of Gold Coast, City of Townsville (including Magnetic Island) and the Aboriginal Shire of Palm Island.
Anyone who has been in any of these areas on or since 19 June will not be permitted to enter Tasmania unless they are approved as an essential traveller by the Deputy State Controller.
A number of premises in these areas have also been declared as high risk.
Anyone who is in Tasmania who has been in Queensland on or since 19 June must check the list of high-risk premises at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/
Anyone who has been at any of the high-risk premises at the specified dates and times and is intending to travel to Tasmania will not be permitted to enter the State.
Anyone already in Tasmania who has been in any of the high-risk LGAs on or since 19 June – but has not been at any high-risk premises at the specified dates and times – does not need to quarantine but must monitor themselves for symptoms. If they experience any cold or flu-like symptoms, even mildly, they must immediately self-isolate and contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange testing.
Western Australia
The Tasmanian Director of Public Health has declared the Western Australian Perth and Peel Regions to be high risk. This approach is consistent with Western Australia’s decision to place Perth and the Peel region into lockdown.
This encompasses the Greater Perth area along with the City of Mandurah, Boddington, Murray, Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Waroona Local Government Areas.
This came into effect from 10am yesterday.
Anyone who has been in the Perth or Peel Regions on or since 22 June will not be permitted to enter Tasmania unless approved as an essential traveller by the Deputy State Controller.
In addition to this, an increasing number of premises in Perth visited by infectious cases have been declared high-risk.
Anyone who has been at any of the high-risk premises at the specified dates and times will not be permitted to enter Tasmania.
Anyone now in Tasmania who has been in WA since 22 June should check the list of high-risk premises at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/
Anyone now in Tasmania who has been in the Perth or Peel areas since 22 June – but has not been at a high-risk premises at the specified dates and times – is not required to quarantine, but must monitor themselves for symptoms. If they experience any cold or flu-like symptoms, even mildly, they must self-isolate and contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange testing.
New South Wales
High-risk declarations remain in place for Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong in New South Wales. There are currently several hundred premises declared as high-risk in NSW, Queensland, WA, the NT and Victoria.
Interstate Travel
Tasmanians are advised to assess their current need to travel interstate, given the evolving situation with COVID-19.
If anyone in Tasmania has recently travelled from interstate they should continue monitoring www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/
Getting Tested
If you have any symptoms of a cold or flu, no matter how mild, please get tested for COVID-19 by phoning the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738. Testing for COVID-19 gives public health authorities the best chance of detecting cases early enough to prevent an outbreak.
To manage demand for testing and ensure everybody who requires a test receives one as quickly and efficiently as possible, testing clinics in Launceston and Hobart are booking-only facilities. Please do not arrive at either of these clinics without a booking. To book a test, contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
Check In TAS
Please use the Check In TAS app whenever you enter a businesses or venues displaying the Check In TAS QR code. This information will be critical for contact tracing in the event any cases occur in Tasmania.
Visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au for the latest Tasmanian information.
Facemask requirements
The Tasmanian Director of Public Health will require people attending Festival of Voices events to wear facemasks as a precaution against COVID-19.
Public Health Services has been in discussions with Festival of Voices regarding this requirement and appreciates the festival’s cooperation.
The requirement is because of the current national COVID-19 risk and the nature of the festival’s events.
From tonight, participants, audience members, support staff and volunteers will be required to wear a facemask at all festival events. Performers will not be required to wear a facemask when they are actually singing.
Exemptions will be made for people who are unable to wear a facemask due to health and safety reasons; and people will be able to remove their mask temporarily while at the events to eat or drink.
Children aged 11 and under will not be required to wear a mask but will be encouraged to do so.
Smaller events associated with the festival, including outdoor pop-ups and participatory workshops will be exempt from the requirement.
People attending events are asked to bring their own facemask, however the festival is providing a limited supply of back-up masks.
Public Health will continue to review the need to extend the requirement for people to wear facemasks to other activities and venues, in line with the national COVID-19 situation and the risk this poses to Tasmanians.
Anyone in Tasmania with symptoms of a cold or flu should get tested for COVID-19. Testing for COVID-19 gives public health authorities the best chance of detecting cases early enough to prevent an outbreak.
If you have any cold or flu symptoms, even mild, contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange a test.
Visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au for the latest Tasmanian information.