Tasmania stands ready for a safe reopening of our borders on 15 December.
Our vaccination rates remain on target, with 93 per cent of those 12 and over having had at least one dose, and 86 per cent now fully vaccinated.
And as long as everyone keeps turning up, we will hit just over 90 per cent vaccination for everyone aged 12 years and over by the time we reopen.
This is a fantastic effort and a credit to all Tasmanians who have rolled up their sleeve, but with our reopening in sight, we are not there yet – so please, continue to turn up.
Importantly, there will be strong safeguards at our borders and in our community as a line of defence once COVID does appear in the community.
All travellers entering Tasmania will be required to complete a Tas-E-Travel pass, which will be available on the Tas-E-Travel website from 12 December 2021.
There will be numerous checks to ensure travellers are very clear on the requirements, along with additional biosecurity staff at domestic airports, providing information to travellers on those requirements, as an extra layer of support.
Requirements include being fully vaccinated with a TGA approved vaccine, or having an approved medical exemption, if over the age of 12 years and 2 months, and for the first four weeks or up until the 12th of January, subject to public health advice, travellers over the age of five will also need a negative COVID-19 test, if coming from a designated high-risk area or overseas.
All travellers will be required to carry proof of vaccination and/or their negative COVID test result with them, whether that’s a digital vaccination certificate and COVID-19 negative test result SMS message, or hard copy evidence.
And when arriving in Tasmania through our airports, all travellers will be required to scan the QR code from their Tas-E-Travel pass generated at a scanning station on arrival, including Hobart, Launceston and Devonport airports.
The scanning stations at the Airports will be manned by biosecurity staff, who will ensure everyone is scanned.
Regional airports will have hand held devices for scanning and for people travelling on the TT-Line, your QR code will be assessed and you will be screened prior to boarding the vessel with further checks on arrival for people approved with conditions.
Anyone caught flouting our rules face an on the spot fine of $1557 and could be summonsed and charged with an offence resulting in up to six months jail or a $17,000 fine.
Further information can be found at https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/border-transition and I urge everyone to jump online and familiarise yourself with the requirements before we reopen on December 15.
We will continue to keep Tasmanians updated at every step as we move closer to reopening our borders on December 15.