'Do not come': Tasmania takes 'hard-line' position on anyone trying to enter
People trying to enter Tasmania via its ferry service will be turned away unless they have a good reason in a move to clamp down on coronavirus cases entering the state.
Premier Peter Gutwein told reporters on Tuesday the measure to stop people boarding the Spirit of Tasmania would be added to its mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement already in place.
“In terms of TT-Line, as of today there is a hard-line position in place that unless you're an essential traveller, or a Tasmanian returning home on the TT-Line, you will not be travelling with us,” Mr Gutwein said in a press conference.
TT-Line operates the Spirit of Tasmania ferry that travels between Melbourne and Tasmania.
“The self-isolation rules have been applied and largely are being adhered to but I want to be absolutely certain and so, as from today, if you are travelling to Tasmania and it's non-essential travel, do not come,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Do not get on the TT-Line. What we will do is turn you around and ask you to go back.”
Mr Gutwein said of the six new confirmed cases of COVID-19 overnight, five were cruise passengers and the other was a traveller.
The state now has 28 confirmed coronavirus cases, with the premier saying a "hard lockdown" was being considered, where only essential services would remain open.
"We're working through those processes," he said.
"I want to say very, very clearly to Tasmanians - if the advice is that we should move to more severe measures, then we will move."
Three people who contracted the deadly virus have recovered.
State Sport and Recreation Minister Jane Howlett is in self isolation after her chief of staff was in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Ms Howlett had travelled with her staffer to a recent national meeting of sports ministers in Townsville.
The staffer was subsequently contacted by Queensland Health.
Tasmanian Police is setting up "compliance teams" to ensure businesses told to shut are obeying the nation-wide order, Mr Gutwein said.
Four of the state's overnight cases were aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship, one was on the Celebrity Solstice and one had recently returned from overseas.
With AAP
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