Independent state MHA Madeleine Ogilvie has called for all arrivals to Tasmania to be tested, following New Zealand's announcement it will tighten restrictions at its borders.
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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Saturday that everyone entering the country, including returning New Zealand citizens returning to the country, will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.
Pacific Island countries with no known cases of coronavirus will be exempt.
Ms Ogilvie said Tasmania was not in a position to isolate all arrivals as that was under the federal government's authority, but that testing should be ramped up as the crisis escalates.
"The similarity to Tasmania is striking, and not just geographically," she said.
"New Zealand has just six cases of COVID-19 - all imported - and we have five - also all imported.
"Tasmania is a global leader in state border biosecurity. We need to use our skills and the natural geographic advantage that comes with being an island state to ramp up COVID-19 precautions."
She is calling for immediate temperature testing at all Tasmanian points of entry.
"Then we can act to test, quarantine and treat," she said.
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Frances Vinall
Frances Vinall is a journalist at The Examiner, Launceston. Contact her at frances.vinall@examiner.com.au
Frances Vinall is a journalist at The Examiner, Launceston. Contact her at frances.vinall@examiner.com.au
