Media release – Peter Gutwein, Premier, 17 August 2021

Further protection for Tasmania against the Delta strain

Protecting Tasmanians remains our absolute priority as we continue to respond to the developing COVID-19 outbreaks in other states, and the severity of the Delta strain.

That’s why we are introducing another safeguard to our border controls and hotel quarantine from today.

Anyone who is approved to travel to Tasmania from a high risk – level 1 location such as New South Wales is currently classified, will now be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their travel to Tasmania. Test results will be able to be uploaded into the G2G system prior to travel, and will ensure yet another layer of protection and compliance to our already strong systems.

We want to ensure those who need to come home can do so safely, so it’s important that those who do not need to come to Tasmania at this time don’t, and we believe this additional requirement will help us with that.

Our strong border restrictions have been working to keep Tasmanians safe, and will remain in place with NSW for the foreseeable future. Victoria and the ACT have extended their lockdowns for two weeks and our border restrictions will remain unchanged with those states.

In some positive news, all of Queensland will be low risk from midnight tonight except for the high risk premises that will remain listed until they expire after 14 days. Information on those premises can be found at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au

This will be welcome news for many, with the improving situation in Queensland, where they have tightened border measures with NSW.

Greater Darwin and Katherine regions in the Northern Territory were also declared high risk level 2 yesterday from 4pm. This means any person who has been in any of those NT municipalities will not be permitted to enter Tasmania unless as an approved essential traveller. A stay at home direction has been implemented for anyone who arrived in Tasmania and was in the municipalities of Darwin, Palmerston and Katherine on or since 11pm on August 12 and arrived here before 4pm yesterday.

A critical element of our Delta Shield Plan is the Super Six Vaccination program, which is our greatest defence and is well underway.

Our aim is to have more than 63 per cent of Tasmanians having had a first dose by September 12, and we’re on track – currently sitting at just below 54 per cent.

Importantly, our program will pick up even more pace, with the establishment of new Pfizer super clinics in Hobart and Burnie.

The Hobart super clinic will be held at MAC 02 Macquarie Wharf on the weekend of August 28 and 29, delivering 2000 doses, and the Burnie super clinic at the Burnie Arts and Function Centre will be held on the weekend of September 11 and 12, delivering an additional 1400 doses.

I particularly urge those aged between 30-59 years who have not yet had your first dose of the vaccine to take advantage of these additional appointments and book now.

Nearly one in three eligible Tasmanians are now fully vaccinated, and we need to keep up the momentum. I urge everyone – don’t wait, vaccinate.

To book an appointment, call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or book online at https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/Book-your-vaccine.