The Tasmanian Liberal Government’s number one priority is protecting the health and safety of all Tasmanians as we continue to respond to the evolving COVID-19 situation in other states.
Last week in response to Victoria’s emerging COVID-19 risk, Tasmania’s Public Health authorities announced that those who had arrived to Tasmania from Victoria between 8- 15 July will be required to wear masks while in public and work settings.
This requirement currently applies until 11.59pm on Tuesday 20 July 2021.
The expert advice is that a returning traveller in this group poses a relatively low risk to the broader community, when wearing a mask and strictly practising COVID safe behaviours.
School environments are unique, which is why we are instead asking that ALL staff and students in Government schools or colleges who have been in Victoria since 8 July (excluding transiting through Melbourne airport) to not attend school today, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 July.
Importantly, there are Learning at Home resources available for impacted students to support them to continue to engage in education through this period - https://www.education.tas.gov.au/learning-at-home/.
The Department will continue to keep staff, parents and students updated in close collaboration with Public Health and will review the situation and provide a further update prior to Thursday 22 July, ensuring students, their families and schools have clarity.
When not at school, it is important that those Tasmanians over 12 years old who have been in Victoria must continue to wear a mask when in public, limit their movements in the community and follow the public health advice which is at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au
I’d like to thank all of our students and their families and staff for following this advice, which may cause some inconvenience for a short period of time.
While we estimate that these requirements will affect only a small percentage of our student population, we acknowledge those families for working with us to keep the community safe.