COVID-19 pandemic in Tasmania

Scotch Oakburn College in Tasmania closed as a preemptive decision in fear of rising SARS-CoV-2 cases. It was to be closed from 16 March until at least 30 March.[1]

On 17 March, Tasmania declared a public health emergency.[2]

On 19 March, all "non-essential" travellers to Tasmania, including returning residents, were subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine.[3]

On 12 April 2020, in response to an outbreak in Burnie, business restrictions were put in place for 14 days. It included the closure of most retail businesses except for those providing essential services, or those who can provide online services and home delivery. The North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) and North West Private Hospital (NWPH) were temporarily closed from Monday 13 April 2020, and staff, patients, and visitors since 27 March, were required to self-quarantine for 14 days.[4] The self-quarantine affected up to 5,000 people. Additional testing was announced, and emergency medical teams from the Australian Defence Force were sent to Burnie to cover for hospital staff.[5]

On 1 August, the 2020 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election, deferred from 30 May to prevent the spread of COVID-19, took place.[6]

Due to a growing cluster in Bondi, Sydney, from 4pm on 23 June Tasmania declared the City of Sydney, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra as high-risk. Border entry will not be allowed to anyone who was in those areas, on or since, 11 June without approval from the Deputy State Controller.[7][8]

On 22 July, the death of a 44-year-old man from Tasmania was linked by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), after vaccination with AstraZeneca. The man was a confirmed case of TTS.[9]

On 15 October Tasmania's southern region, including Hobart, went into a 3-day lockdown at 6pm. This followed a man positive to the Delta variant of COVID-19 escaping from hotel quarantine and being in the community for around 18 hours before police located him the next day. The man did not co-operate in tracing his contacts. He flew from Melbourne to Hobart on 11 October, but did not have the correct border pass. He was taken to a quarantine hotel in Hobarts' CBD, and went missing on 12 October. As a result of the lockdown, The Unconformity arts festival due to start that day in Queenstown was cancelled.[10]

The local government areas (LGA) affected are: Brighton Council, Central Highlands Council, City of Clarence, Derwent Valley Council, Glamorgan–Spring Bay Council, City of Glenorchy, City of Hobart, Huon Valley Council, Sorell Council, Southern Midlands Council, Tasman Council and Kingborough Council.[10]