Tasmania has opened its borders to most of mainland Australia, marking the first time in seven months people from interstate can arrive without having to quarantine.
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The island state on Monday reopened to coronavirus low-risks jurisdictions Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and ACT, plus New Zealand.
Tasmania was the first state or territory in Australia to close its borders in March and has gone more than 70 days without recording a new case.
Health Minister Sarah Courtney says the state government has faith in its contact tracing processes and the preparedness of aged care homes.
All arrivals at airports and sea ports will be health screened and anyone with virus symptoms will be tested and ordered into quarantine until their result is known.
Ms Courtney urged people to maintain social distancing and good personal hygiene.
"While it's exiting to be able to see restrictions ease and life getting to a COVID-normal, we also need to remember there is always a risk of coronavirus in our community," she said.
Tasmania remains closed to Victoria and may open to NSW on November 2, with a firm call on that date to be made this week.
Ms Courtney urged anyone with virus symptoms to get tested and said the daily testing rate of about 400-500 people needs to be higher.
The Spirit of Tasmania Bass Strait ferry service, which leaves from Melbourne, will resume but only to people coming from low-risk mainland states.
Australian Associated Press
