24 June 2020

Peter Gutwein, Premier

Further COVID-19 restrictions to ease

Tasmania will bring forward further easing of restrictions from noon Friday 26 June, enabling more people into businesses and more Tasmanians to enjoy the activities they love.

Tasmanians are to be congratulated on their continued efforts to keep one another safe, including maintaining high testing numbers to ensure we know if there is detection of the virus in the community.

To date we remain at 39 days without an active case of coronavirus, and there have been 45,440 tests – with 656 tests conducted yesterday.

The details of what Tasmanians can safely enjoy from noon Friday 26 June are outlined as follows:

• Gathering sizes will increase to a maximum of 500 (outdoor) and 250 (per undivided indoor space) across all premises. These limits include all people (including staff, spectators, volunteers);
• The maximum density limit will move from 4sqm to 2sqm. This will not apply to some settings as is currently the case (eg. transport and health facilities);
• Saunas, spa baths, flotation tanks and bath houses may reopen;
• Garage sales, car boot sales and second-hand goods sales can resume;
• Stadiums can reopen;
• Strip clubs and provision of services to a person by a sex worker, within the meaning of the Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 can resume;
• Casinos and gaming venues can reopen;
• Markets and food vans at markets can resume;
• Food courts (now including dine in);
• Night clubs can reopen;
• Pools (indoor and outdoor) – maximum density limit, with a cap of 250 persons per single undivided space, including athletes and support staff. Level C of the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport applies;
• Outdoor community sport – maximum density limit, with a cap of 500 persons outdoors and 250 persons per single undivided space where indoor facilities also are in place, including athletes and support staff. Sporting activities can be undertaken based on Level C of the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport. This means:
  • a return to full contact training
  • return to full competition sport (contact and non-contact)
  • use of change rooms and other shared facilities permitted but not encouraged
  • for larger team sports, consider maintaining some small group separation at training
  • non-essential social gatherings should be limited
• Indoor sport and recreation – maximum density limit, with a cap of 250 persons per single undivided space, including athletes and support staff. Sporting activities can be undertaken based on Level C of the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport. This means:
  • a return to full contact training
  • return to full competition sport (contact and non-contact)
  • use of change rooms and other shared facilities permitted but not encouraged
  • for larger team sports, consider maintaining some small group separation at training
  • non-essential social gatherings should be limited

Sporting facilities, including gyms, must continue to have a staff member or other authorised person on the premises while open.

Patrons must be seated in premises where alcohol is sold, such as pubs, bars and nightclubs, meaning activities that are not seated (eg pool, dancing) are not permitted.

Further consideration will be given to premises that can seat over 1000 people following national cabinet on Friday.

I have always said that when it comes to easing restrictions, we will take a responsible and sensible approach, to avoid a situation where we let our guard down too soon and compromise all the good work we have achieved in Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Government will continue to engage with our public health experts as we manage the coronavirus situation in our state.

While the virus is not eradicated, nor is there a vaccine, we have in place our four safeguards, which continue to be our best defence against the virus, and I ask Tasmanians not to become complacent.

Continue to Maintain good hygiene – wash your hands, cough or sneeze into your elbow, and keep an appropriate distance from people.  Download the COVID-Safe App to assist public health officials with tracing efforts; ensure COVID-Safe plans are in place for business and organisations; and get tested if you have symptoms – even mild ones.

Importantly, 1.5m physical distancing where practicable continues.

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