Tasmania cements border opening day in December

Following a briefing by the state health commander, Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Tuesday authorities were confident all of its eligible residents had the opportunity to be vaccinated.

“This means there is no turning back,” he said.

“Our borders will definitely reopen on December 15, so if you haven’t yet rolled up your sleeve, please protect yourself, your loved ones and your community and get vaccinated.”

Currently, 91.4 per cent of Tasmanians aged 12 and over have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine while 83.3 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Mr Gutwein said the promising figures put the state on track to achieve its goal of 90 per cent full vaccination by the time the borders open.

But he said the rates for people aged 12 to 16 years were “lagging” and encouraged more young people to get the jab.

“Vaccination remains the best safeguard we have against Covid-19.

“Tasmania has the opportunity to achieve one of the highest vaccination rates, not just across the country, but across the whole world but we are not there yet, and people must keep turning up.”

Under the eased restrictions, all travellers will need to show proof that they have both doses and returned a negative test result before they will be allowed to freely enter.

Those who fail to do so will be directed to isolate until they can provide that evidence.

The announcement comes as South Australia opened its borders to all Australians on Tuesday, after more than 150 days of locking out travel from the east.

Unlike Tasmania’s 90 per cent target, SA was chasing an 80 per cent vaccination rate to allow travel to fully vaccinated people.

Originally published as ‘No turning back’: Another state cements border opening day in December