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Health

COVID-19 density and capacity restrictions in Tasmania to be scrapped from Friday

Eased restrictions mean events can happen at pre-COVID capacity. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)

Tasmania will do away with density and capacity limits from all settings come midnight this Friday.

The one person per 2 square-metre rule will no longer remain in place and all venues and events can operate at pre-COVID capacity, although some may opt to keep restrictions in place as part of their COVID safety plans.

"From pubs and theatres to stadiums to festivals, there will be no limitations on the number of people that can attend," Premier Jeremy Rockliff said.

"The number of daily positive cases has stabilised over the past month after cases peaked in April."

The Premier said mask requirements in some settings would remain, but "we'll have more to say in the coming weeks".

"While we are sensibly stepping down restrictions, it does not mean we lose COVID-safe behaviours," he said.

Mr Rockliff reminded Tasmanians to continue to get vaccinated and keep up with their boosters.

According to Public Health, Tasmanian has a rolling seven-day average of cases of 1,007, which has remained stable for the past six to eight weeks.

On average, Tasmania is still seeing around one death a day.

Deputy Director of Public Health Julie Graham acknowledged the rising case numbers in other parts of the country but said it was Tasmania's stable case numbers and hospital admissions that allowed public health to review its advice.

"We're likely to continue to see this pattern of rising and falling case numbers as we potentially see new variants in the community, [as] our immunity waxes and wanes depending on our vaccination coverage, people's behaviours change … and we're increasing in our mixing," she said.

"We are still under the death rates for other states and territories, certainly any death is concerning, and we really want to promote those who are at risk for severe disease — your best defence is to be vaccinated."

Businesses can keep insisting on mask use

Dr Graham said there might still be premises that continue to keep restrictions in place.

"Businesses may continue to restrict the number of people coming into their premises as part of their COVID safety risk assessment and plans, they would like to continue to protect their staff.

"The events will still be required to practice COVID-safe behaviours, public health will require big events over 5,000 and music events over 2,000 to submit a COVID safety plan to the government."

She also used the opportunity to urge Tasmania to get vaccinated against the flu.

There are rising numbers of influenza cases across Australia. There have been 17,764 notifications of the illness across the country, including Tasmania.

'Keep getting vaccinated'

Tasmanian Health Department Secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks echoed the need for people to be vaccinated, saying while 98 per cent of eligible Tasmanians had two doses, it did not mean the job was finished.

"You need to have your third or your booster dose if you're due, or your fourth winter dose if you fall into the age or medical groups that actually require it."

Around 130,000 Tasmanians 16 and older still have not had their third dose of the vaccine, and more than 120,000 who qualify for fourth doses have not had one.

Mr Rockliff has recently emerged from isolation after coming down with COVID and said he was fortunate enough to not have "severe symptoms".

"I feel good, I'm not quite as relaxed as former premier Peter Gutwein [who recently quit politics] … I'm really ready willing and able, back in action," he said.

United States passes grim milestone of 1 million COVID-19 deaths.
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