(Australia): Tasmania is planning to reopen its borders to safe and low-risk Covid states from October, 26, its Premier Peter Gutwein said on Friday.
Safe and low-risk Covid states comprise of Australian Capital Territory (ACT), South Australia (SA), Queensland (QLD), Western Australia (WA), and the Northern Territory (NT). The premier also said the situation in New South Wales looked promising, and that the government would be keeping an eye over it for the next week.
Commenting on Victoria, Premier Gutwein, who acknowledged Victoria’s impressive response system in curbing its second wave of infections, said Tasmanians would have to wait a while before opening borders with the state.
Premier Gutwein also acknowledged the importance of Victoria to Tasmania – in terms of travel and trade, but added that it wouldn’t be safe to open the border with Victoria as of yet.
“We’re simply not prepared to put Tasmanians at risk, meaning that border restrictions will remain in place for the time being with Victoria, and we’ll keep New South Wales under advisement”, he said.
