Peter Gutwein,Premier
Today marks a significant milestone for Tasmania's vaccination program with 90 per cent of Tasmanians aged 16 years and over now having had at least one dose of the vaccine.
This means that with three to four weeks between second doses, we are on track to hit our December target, with 77 per cent of Tasmanians aged 16 years and older now fully vaccinated.
This is great news and a credit to every Tasmanian who has heard the call to get vaccinated as we draw closer to reopening on December 15.
Importantly, I am absolutely confident that the key benchmark I have set for all Tasmanians aged 12 and over to have had the opportunity to be vaccinated before we reopen our borders will be met.
However, I do want to stress that we need to keep the momentum going, so if you haven't received your first dose, or haven't booked in your second, please – protect yourselves, your loves ones, and your community by turning up and rolling up your sleeve.
There is no turning back from our December 15 reopening date, so if you haven't been vaccinated –get vaccinated.
Additionally, following advice from public health in regard to pre-testing requirements for incoming travellers from 15 December, testing will only remain in place for higher risk jurisdictions such as NSW, ACT or Victoria for up to four weeks.
This means that 72 hour pre-departure testing will not apply for those coming from lower risk jurisdictions, such as WA, Queensland, NT or South Australia, in recognition of the lower risk of community spread associated with those areas.
In terms of mandatory vaccinations, a direction has now been signed for the disability sector. This means that from 21 November 2021, a disability support worker is not able to provide high intensity support to a participant of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, unless they are sufficiently vaccinated against the disease.
This will ensure that the three highest risk groups: aged care, health and disability workers will all be vaccinated, which will protect the workers and volunteers, who support our elderly, those who need health care and the disabled.
For the rest of the public service, we are in the process of updating the risk assessment for each agency to determine which of our employees are in higher risk roles.
Once this process is completed, we will move to mandate vaccinations for those working in higher risk occupation groups to protect our employees, the continuity of essential services, and our community.
Keeping Tasmanians safe and secure has, and remains, my absolute priority and we will continue to keep the community updated as we draw closer to reopening on December 15.
