Tasmania announces plans to open borders to the rest of Australia in late July

Tasmania is planning to reopen its borders to mainland Australia on July 24, but the decision will be based on public health advice across the next four weeks.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has targeted a 90 per cent full vaccination rate for people over 16 by December 1.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Source: AAP

Tasmania is planning to reopen its borders to mainland Australia in four weeks.

Premier Peter Gutwein has announced the island state intends to ease border restrictions on July 24, depending on public health advice.

He said the state will review the coronavirus situation in other jurisdictions over the next month, paying particular attention to a spike in Victoria.

"If the public health advice is that we should maintain our restrictions, then we will maintain our restrictions," Mr Gutwein told reporters on Friday.
"As the circumstances stand, if we were opening up tomorrow, we would not be opening up our borders with Victoria.

"I don't care who is calling for it, whether it be a lobby group, the prime minister. If the public health advice is we should maintain restrictions, we will."

Tasmania has gone 42 days without recording a new COVID-19 case and is free of active cases.

Mr Gutwein said reopening to select states would be considered.

The state shifted to stage three of restrictions at midday on Friday, with up to 500 people allowed at outdoor venues and 250 at indoor ones.

The one person per four square metres rule has been eased to two metres.

Community sport and contact training have the green light while casino and gaming venues, markets and garage sales can resume.

However, a 20-person limit on household visitors remains in place.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.

Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.

SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at 


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Published 26 June 2020 3:10pm
Updated 26 June 2020 3:25pm



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