Australia: Tasmania to ban entry for most people who visited designated high-risk locations in Melbourne from May 25 /update 22

Event

Tasmania officials will declare several premises in Melbourne to be high-risk areas from 00:01 May 25. Travelers who had visited a high-risk area within 14 days of entry will not be allowed to enter the state. Authorities will exempt essential travelers from the rule; essential travelers include medical personnel and specialists with skills relating to key industries. Essential travelers entering the state as medical personnel or for non-business reasons must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. People currently in Tasmania who had visited high-risk areas on or since May 20 must call the Public Health Hotline and self-quarantine.

Local Restrictions

Tasmania continues to implement statewide measures to limit the potential spread of COVID-19. Household gatherings remain limited to 100 people. Indoor events of up to 250 people and outdoor events of up to 1,000 people can occur, provided venues adhere to a density limit of one person per two square meters (21.5 square feet). Capacity restrictions do not apply to emergency services, transport hubs, and educational institutions, among others. Nonessential businesses are operating. Companies that require a COVID Safety Plan, restaurants, hospitality venues, places of worship, entertainment venues, and many nonessential retail and service outlets must collect patrons' contact information and keep records for 28 days. Most businesses and other facilities must use the Check in TAS mobile application.

Domestic Border Controls

The government allows travel from other areas of Australia, except for designated high-risk sites. As of May 24, officials only designate sites in Melbourne as high-risk. Authorities ban travelers with exposure to high-risk sites. Individuals traveling to Tasmania from other parts of Australia must register through the Tas e-Travel system within 72 hours of arrival. Tasmanian authorities could designate additional areas within Australia as high or medium risk in response to any new community COVID-19 activity in the coming days and weeks.

Quarantine Requirements

Most travelers entering Australia must quarantine at government-designated facilities for 14 days in the city of arrival. Officials designate most of New Zealand as a low-risk location, and travelers may enter the state without quarantine. Tasmania charges domestic and international travelers for quarantine, with fees payable after the quarantine period. Quarantine fees are AUD 2,800 (USD 2,163) for the first adult and AUD 1,000 (USD 772) for each additional adult or AUD 500 (USD 386) for children, except those under three years old.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by government health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Plan for transport disruptions and delivery delays at designated hotspot areas. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Tasmania COVID-19 Information
Tasmania Government Travel Alerts
Tas E-travel Pass System
G2G Travel Pass System