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What you need to know as Tasmania opens up after almost two years

Tasmania’s borders have finally come down after almost two years of Covid-19 restrictions. Here are the rules you need to know.

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Tasmania has fully reopened to mainland Australia following almost two years of Covid-19 restrictions.

Fully vaccinated travellers from across the country will be able to visit Tasmania without having to go into hotel quarantine after the border was lifted at midnight on Wednesday.

The state’s border had most recently been closed to people coming from Victoria, NSW and the ACT.

About 95 per cent of people over the age of 12 in Tasmania have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, with 89 per cent fully vaccinated.

Premier Peter Gutwein had hoped to reach the 90 per cent vaccination threshold before reopening but stuck to the December 15 date.

“We are one of the most vaccinated places on the planet, opening up after a period of nearly two years where we have had no Covid at all,” he told Sunrise on Wednesday morning.

“We are prepared, ready and looking forward to welcoming people back from all over the country. Many Tasmanians are looking forward to seeing family again after what has been a pretty long 22 months.”

The state is forecast to hit the 90 per cent immunisation target for over 12s later this week.

Double-dose vaccinated people entering Tasmania from Wednesday will still need to abide by strict travel rules.

All travellers to Tasmania, including returning residents, need to register their contact and travel details on the new Tas e-Travel system.

The requirements vary depending on where travellers are coming from.

Anyone who has spent time in what the Tasmanian government deems a high-riskarea in the 14 days before they plan to arrive in the state will be required to return a negative PCR test within 72 hours before departure.

As of Wednesday, the high-risk areas included the entire ACT, several suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne and a few other countries including Tonga and Samoa.

People who have spent time in an “extreme risk” area in the 14 days before they plan to arrive in Tasmania need to apply for approval before they can enter the state.

All other countries fall into the Tasmanian government’s extreme risk category if they are not identified as high or low risk on its Covid-19 website.

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How to avoid catching COVID-19 including getting vaccinated, wearing masks and physical distancing.

Does Australia have COVID-19 travel restrictions?

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People travelling to Australia no longer need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result.

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Tasmania scraps travel restrictions for the fully vaccinated while unvaccinated arrivals still face five days quarantine

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has unveiled a major overhaul of the requirements for fully vaccinated arrivals while unvaccinated travellers still face tough restrictions.

Fully vaccinated travellers heading to Tasmania will no longer be required to get a negative COVID-19 test before arriving while the unvaccinated will still face the current requirements.

Premier Peter Gutwein announced the relaxed border restrictions on Tuesday as the state begins its transition to living with the virus.

“We are moving through a transition stage to where we can live with COVID in the same way we can live with flu or other respiratory diseases,” he said.

From midnight on Tuesday, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to register their travel or take a COVID-19 test prior to travelling.

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For those who are unvaccinated and aged over 12 years and two months, they will still need to register their trip and produce a negative rapid test within 24 hours of their arrival or a negative PCR test within 72 hours of travelling.

Unvaccinated arrivals will also still face five days in quarantine upon entry into Tasmania and will need to get a negative test on day five before leaving quarantine.

Mr Gutwein said the government’s decision came off the back of lower than expected hospital admissions.

“The main metric is protecting our health system and while we’re not seeing the numbers in hospital that other jurisdictions are, principally as a result of the higher vaccination rate that we’ve got across the community,” he said.

“We do know that the evidence in other states such as Queensland for example demonstrates that unvaccinated people are up to 24 times more likely to end up in an ICU than someone who is vaccinated.

“That’s why that particular border measure regarding unvaccinated travel will remain in place for the moment.”

The announcement came as Tasmania recorded 1,310 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases to 6,417.

There are 25 people currently in hospital with COVID-19 and two patients requiring intensive care treatment.

Public Health Director Mark Veitch admitted the state was not quite at the peak of their current wave adding that hospital admissions were expected to rise in the coming days.

“We have had a bit over 1000 cases for over a week. I do not think we are quite at a peak,” Dr Veitch said.

“We would expect more hospitalisations in the coming days as some people get sick enough to need hospital care.”

The Premier also confirmed students will return to school on February 9 with a COVID-safe return to school plan to be revealed this week.

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Jeremy Rockliff

Premier of tasmania, 18 january 2022 peter gutwein, premier, changes to border entry requirements for vaccinated travellers.

The health and safety of Tasmanians remains our number one priority as we continue through the transition phase of learning to live with COVID-19.

As part of this transition and in line with our commitment to review arrangements after one month of our borders reopening, from midnight tonight all vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to register their travel or to take a COVID-19 test prior to travelling.

This is based on public health advice and is part of our transition to living with COVID-19 and returning to a more normal way of life once this transition phase ends.

However, the current rules remain in place for those who are not vaccinated unless they have a valid medical exemption.

This means people who are not vaccinated must continue to register their travel on the Tas-E-Travel app, have a negative COVID-19 test prior to travelling (either a RAT within 24 hours prior or a PCR within 72 hours prior), and undertake a minimum of five days’ quarantine on arrival, along with producing a negative COVID-19 test on day five to leave quarantine.

While these rules will be reviewed in coming months, the evidence in other jurisdictions such as Queensland shows that unvaccinated people are up to 24 times more likely to end up in ICU than someone who is vaccinated.

This clearly shows the importance of being vaccinated, and that’s why we will continue to step down our COVID border safeguards in a sensible and responsible way, to ensure our health system can continue to cope.

This is a challenging time, but things will get better as we transition out of this phase and live with COVID-19 in our community in coming months.

I encourage Tasmanians to keep doing the little things as we continue through this period – keep up your COVID-safe behaviours, maintain good hygiene, stay home if you’re unwell, and if you’re due for your vaccination or a booster, then please turn up.

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Vaccinated or unvaccinated, find out what you can and can't do now borders are open

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Launceston Airport is set to welcome more than 2000 arrivals today as borders open to the rest of the country.

Depending on where you're going and where you're coming from, the rules look very different.

Here's what you need to know if you're hoping to travel this Christmas and New Year period:

Coming to Tasmania

Travellers to Tasmania, including returning residents, need to provide their contact and travel details before entering the state, to help manage the risk of COVID-19 at Tasmania's borders.

All travellers must register through the Tas e-Travel system and you will be required to scan your QR code on arrival in Tasmania.

You must have evidence of your vaccination certificate and - if required - a negative result from your COVID-19 PCR pre-departure test.

Arriving from a low-risk area: You do not need to be tested for COVID-19 or quarantine and just need to register your travel via the Tas E-Travel website.

Arriving from a high-risk area:

• You are required to return a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours before departure to Tasmania.
• If you are Tasmanian and have been out of the state for less than 7 days, you do not need to receive a test prior to entering the state, but you are required to be tested within 24 hours of returning. You do not need to quarantine while you wait for the test result unless you have symptoms. If a positive result is returned you will be contacted by Public Health authorities.
• If you cannot provide evidence of your vaccination status or negative test result on arrival, you will be required to quarantine for up to 14 days or until you can provide evidence of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test on or after day five.

Unvaccinated

You must apply for approval to enter Tasmania regardless of where you have been before arrival. Visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au for information on how to apply to enter the State.

If you cannot provide evidence of your vaccination status, you will be required to quarantine for up to 14 days or until you can provide evidence of vaccination.

What do I do if I don't have a smartphone?

Travellers will be able to complete a manual form on arrival and will also be required to demonstrate the necessary evidence.

This information is available on the COVID-19 website, and can also be obtain by calling the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738

People without smart phones are able to present a hard copy of their COVID test result present on arrival.

Private pathology clinics in other jurisdictions will conduct pre-travel COVID-19 tests and will generally provide a COVID-19 testing and results certificate to the traveller.

If you can't access your COVID-19 vaccination certificate online, you can ask your GP to print your immunisation history statement.

I'm a FIFO worker in a high-risk area. How do I get a test when I don't have access to a testing site prior to departure?

If you cannot provide evidence of your negative test result on arrival, you will be required to quarantine until you can provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test on or after day five.

If a COVID-19 test is taken after arrival, you will be advised to stay home until you get a negative test result. You need to upload the result to the Tas e-Travel system .

Can I get a rapid antigen test before travelling?

Simple answer, no.

A test must be a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, which involves nasal and throat swabs. This type of test is highly accurate and considered the gold standard for detecting an active infection of COVID-19.

You are exempt from the testing requirement if:

• You are under five years of age; or
• You have a current medical exemption from requiring undertaking a PCR COVID-19 test; or
• You are a transport, freight and logistics worker or international aircrew complying with the testing regime that applies to these workers.

International travel - extreme-risk areas

If vaccinated you will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to travel then quarantine for seven days in a suitable premises, which could be home-based, on arrival.

You will be tested on day 1, 5 or 6 and on day 13.

You will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to travel, then quarantine in a designated facility for 14 days at your place of arrival (which would not be in Tasmania) with testing in place on day 1-5 or 6-13.

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The only international exceptions to the extreme risk classification are Singapore, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga and the South Island of New Zealand which fall under the same category as a high risk jurisdiction where requirements are to be fully vaccinated and produce a COVID-19 negative test 72 hours prior to travel.

This also applies to Antarctica only for international expeditioners from Hobart to Christchurch who quarantine prior to their departure.

COVID management

I've visited a low exposure site, what do i do.

If you have visited a low-risk exposure site, you must monitor yourself for symptoms.

You must get tested if you develop symptoms, even if they are mild. You are not required to quarantine.

I've been told I am a casual contact, what does this mean?

A casual contact is someone who has been in the same place as a confirmed case during their infectious period but does not meet the requirements for a close contact. You must get tested between days 3 and 5.

You are not required to quarantine but you must wear a mask for 14 days from exposure to the COVID-19 case, when you can't physically distance from others.

If you develop symptoms before or after the required test, you should isolate and have a test immediately. The requirements for casual contacts are the same for vaccinated or unvaccinated people.

I am a close contact of someone who has tested positive, what do I do?

Vaccinated:

You must quarantine immediately and have a COVID-19 test. You must get tested again on day 5 or 6.

If your test results are negative, you will be released from quarantine after 7 days. You must also be tested again on day 12 or 13.

If you develop symptoms between the required tests, you should isolate and have a test immediately.

Unvaccinated:

You must quarantine immediately for 14 days from exposure to the COVID-19 case.

You must have a minimum of two COVID-19 tests. You will need to be tested immediately at the start of your quarantine, and again on day 12-13.

If your test results are all negative, you will be released from quarantine after 14 days.

Someone I live with has tested positive. Do I have to quarantine?

People who are vaccinated and in the same household as a close contact are not required to quarantine but should limit further exposure to the contact and avoid high-risk settings for 14 days. If you show symptoms, you should get tested.

People who are unvaccinated and in the same household as a close contact must also follow the quarantine requirements.

I'm a business owner, and a positive case visited my premises. Do I have to shut?

If Public Health notifies you that a confirmed COVID-19 case is linked to your workplace, they will work with you to identify what you need to do to protect other people and continue normal activities within your business as soon and as safely as possible.

The initial steps Public Health may ask you to take are to review and activate your COVID-19 Safety Plan and/or Outbreak Management Plan , Organise cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched areas, and instruct people in your setting to wear face masks.

I'm not vaccinated, can I still enter certain premises?

Unvaccinated patrons cannot enter pubs, nightclubs, bars and event (such as music festivals) where people are freely mixing and moving, including drinking standing up.

When and where do I need to wear a mask?

The wearing of masks are recommended where you cannot physically distance in indoor spaces. There are situations when wearing a mask is mandatory in Tasmania. The mask must cover your mouth and nose.

Face masks must be worn by everyone aged 12 years and older who is:

• in an indoor area of the airport that is open to passengers or a member of the public;
• boarding a commercial domestic aircraft, including when on the tarmac;
• on board a commercial domestic aircraft in Tasmanian airspace;
• in an indoor area of the Spirit of Tasmania terminal that is open to passengers or other members of the public;
• in a vehicle that is at the Spirit of Tasmania terminal, on board the vessel, or while proceeding through the Biosecurity screening and other check points;
• in a communal area on board the Spirit of Tasmania vessel while the vessel is at the terminal or in Tasmanian waters; and
• in a public hospital
• in a private hospital
• in a day-procedure facility
• at any event that has more than 1000 people in attendance, regardless of whether the event is seated or unseated, indoors or outdoors. This includes while queuing, entering or exiting from the event.

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Information for families, students, staff and visitors on COVID-safe behaviours, and how we are managing COVID-19 at our sites.

• Key information
• The  COVID-safe schools plan 2024 (PDF, 188KB)  sets out how we’ll continue to safely manage COVID-19 in schools.
• Key measures are outlined below.
• This plan follows Public Health advice.
• While this plan focuses on schools, the practical advice applies to our other sites.
• COVID-safe behaviours
• Do not come to school if unwell – this applies to staff, students and visitors.
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• Keep your hands clean by using soap and water or hand sanitiser.
• All students, staff and visitors are supported to wear masks should they choose to.
• Consider wearing a face mask indoors where you cannot physically distance from others.

Vaccination

• Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines helps protect you from severe illness due to COVID-19.
• Staff, students and visitors are encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza (the flu).

Supporting COVID-safe behaviours

• Hand sanitiser and face masks are available at all sites for anyone to use.

Ventilation

• Spaces are well-ventilated through natural airflow where possible.
• Other mechanical equipment may be used to promote airflow and improve ventilation.
• Schools will take advantage of outdoor learning opportunities.
• Regular cleaning is undertaken.
• Family engagement
• do not have symptoms
• practise COVID-safe behaviours
• follow any school advice.
• Schools may need to implement additional risk mitigations for events and activities to minimise the risk of COVID-19, such as limiting the number of attendees or requiring physical distancing.
• School activities
• excursions (day and overnight)
• school camps
• fairs and carnivals
• productions
• prize nights.
• Activities should encourage COVID-safe behaviours and consider the COVID-19 risk in the community at that time as part of activity planning.
• spaces are well-ventilated
• face masks are readily available
• physical distancing is supported; or
• the numbers of participants are limited.
• Intrastate travel can go ahead with appropriate Department approval and a risk mitigation plan. This includes overnight excursions and camps.
• Travel for school groups
• Interstate and international travel can occur with a risk assessment and contingency plan in place.
• Department approval is needed for interstate and international travel.
• Considerations for travelling must be revised before departure to ensure the risk assessment remains up to date.
• Vulnerable students
• All Tasmanians have a role to protect the vulnerable. By following COVID-safe behaviours and staying home when unwell, you help protect vulnerable students from the impacts of COVID-19.
• School staff wear masks when working closely with students known to be medically vulnerable to COVID-19.
• Staff do not provide direct support to students medically vulnerable to COVID-19 for at least seven days from testing positive to COVID-19.
• Support Schools have additional restrictions for COVID positive cases and close contacts.
• School attendance is important 

Being at school is the best place for our kids. It’s where they learn and grow alongside their friends, and where they benefit the most.

Every school day matters. Your child should be at school unless:

• they’re feeling unwell 
• have medical advice due to an ongoing medical condition 
• they’ve been told to stay home by Public Health. 
• Health and wellbeing

These resources can help when talking to your child about COVID-19:

• Emerging Minds
• Red Cross .

Please seek professional help if needed. Support services include:

• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
• More information 

For the latest information visit: 

• Tasmanian Department of Health website   
• Australian Government Department of Health website   
• General COVID-19 enquiries  –  Tasmanian Public Health Hotline  on 1800 671 738 
• Catholic Education Tasmania  on 03 6210 8888 
• Independent Schools Tasmania  on 03 6224 0125.

Published May 16, 2024

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• Mental health and wellbeing
• Dealing with emergency or disaster
• Food in schools
• Support for carers
• Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey

COVID-19 vaccination

Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, including booster doses.

• Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, including booster doses, will help protect you from severe illness due to COVID-19.
• COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses, is especially important for people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19, including older Tasmanians and those with certain medical conditions.  
• You can get free COVID-19 vaccinations (including booster doses) at GP clinics or participating local pharmacies. Contact your local GP or pharmacy to book an appointment, or book online using the health direct service finder .
• If you have questions about COVID-19 vaccinations please speak to your GP, healthcare provider, or call the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 .

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Tasmania to reopen travel with Queensland after downgrade in COVID outbreak

Tasmania will downgrade all of Queensland to "low" COVID-19 risk from Wednesday, allowing travel without quarantine between the two states.

Key points:

• The Tasmanian ban on travellers from certain areas in Queensland will be lifted from Wednesday
• People thinking of driving through New South Wales have been warned they will be deemed as having been in a high-risk area
• The public can attend the AFL match in Hobart on Sunday — but must wear a mask

Only Queensland travellers who have been in a listed "high-risk" premises will still face restrictions. 

The COVID outbreaks on the mainland have led Tasmanian health authorities to ban travellers from Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and anyone from the Northern Territory who has been in Greater Darwin and Katherine.

Only returning Tasmanian residents and anyone deemed an essential traveller can receive a G2G pass to enter the state from those jurisdictions.

Premier Peter Gutwein said Tasmania remained "under constant threat" from the Delta strain of coronavirus.

He said the ban in place for those coming from NSW would "remain in place for the foreseeable future".

Travellers cannot drive through NSW at all

Mark Veitch, the director of Public Health, said even people who "drive their car through New South Wales" would be deemed to have been in a high-risk area by Tasmanian authorities.

That means Queensland travellers hoping to avoid quarantining will not be able to drive through NSW, even just with stops for fuel, in order to reach Tasmania on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry. 

Those who attempted it would be "required to go into hotel quarantine, if indeed you are allowed into Tasmania at all", Dr Veitch said.

"We really don't want people getting into a car at the Queensland border and driving non-stop to Victoria … it is just not safe."

Dr Veitch said the "worst-affected" area of Dubbo was of concern due to the region "very quickly reaching well over 100 cases", pointing to the "very mobile population".

Mr Gutwein also said attendees at Sunday's AFL fixture between St Kilda and Fremantle at Blundstone Arena would be required to wear masks.

He said teams and staff would be regularly tested and leave after the match is completed.

More information on the current state of restrictions can be found on the Tasmanian government's coronavirus website .

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