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Tasmania Introduces Toughest Border Measures In Australia As It Declares State Of Emergency

Tasmania Introduces Toughest Border Measures In Australia As It Declares State Of Emergency

Only essential travellers will be allowed into Tasmania without going into quarantine.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Tasmania is introducing the toughest border measures in Australia in a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

A state of emergency has been officially declared by Premier Peter Gutwein in a bid to stem the outbreak of Covid-19.

Mr Gutwein told a press conference: "We are going to introduce the toughest border measures in the country. Only essential travellers will be allowed into Tasmania without going into quarantine.

ABC News

"From midnight, Friday 20 March, all non-essential travellers departing for Tasmanian will be required to quarantine for 14 days," he said.

"This is a tough, but necessary decision to flatten the curve, putting Tasmanians' health and wellbeing first."

Essential travellers have been identified as health care workers who are travelling to Tassie specifically to help with the outbreak of the coronavirus, defence personnel, air and ship crew, specialists, and essential freight personnel.

The move includes Australians and foreigners.

"We know that for some it will create disruption, but our aim is to ensure that we protect the health, wellbeing and safety of Tasmanians," Premier Gutwein said.

Hobart.
Michael Fromholtz (Creative Commons)

The state's leader said he was speaking with hotel operators to see if they could house some of the sick patients.

Tasmania has 10 cases of coronavirus at the moment, with three new cases coming from people who had travelled from outside the state.

There are more than 560 cases across Australia.

The Premier said people who tried to dodge the self-isolation rule could face a fine up $16,800 or a six-month prison term. He also said his government could use GPS tracking to ensure people are staying in their homes.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, coronavirus, Australia