Tasmania is edging closer to finally opening up to NSW after Premier Peter Gutwein said he was targeting removing border restrictions on 6 November.
However, that new date is four days later than previously teased and is also subject to there being no further outbreaks in NSW.
Tasmania opened up to South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT on Monday.
Currently, Tasmania requires all residents crossing the border from ‘medium-risk’ NSW to quarantine at a government facility or “suitable premises”.
Premier Peter Gutwein has made multiple hints he could open up to NSW over the last few weeks, though has yet to confirm a definitive date without caveats.
“What we want to see in a jurisdiction that we open up to is less than five cases of unknown transmission in the last 28 days,” said Premier Gutwein on Tuesday.
“New South Wales in the last 28 days has had six only in a population of nearly 8 million people, so they are on top of this.
“At this stage they look on balance very safe in terms of their population size and the relative risk to Tasmania.
“So, we will target that Friday November 6. But obviously, we will take public health advice along the way.”
Earlier this month, Australian Aviation reported that Link Airways would launch a new route between Canberra and Hobart on 3 December, but that has been moved forward to 5 November due to the announcements.
The flights will depart Canberra at 9:30am and arrive into Hobart at 11:35am, while the return service will depart Hobart at 12:05pm and land in Canberra at 2:05pm.
The route, serviced by the airline’s Saab 340B Plus aircraft, will initially operate four times a week but there are plans to shift that up to 11 in 2021.
Craigy
says:Quite frankly I don’t care if or when Tasmania opens their border. I will not be visiting. Tasmania can pay for the consequences of their parochialism. Same for Qld and WA.