Date set for coronavirus vaccine rollout in Tasmania

He said high-risk Tasmanians would be targeted first to receive the vaccine over a six-month rollout.

The Pfizer vaccine, which is expected to be approved for use by the end of the month, will be stored at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital and the North West Regional Hospital.

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A mass vaccination emergency operation centre will be established on Monday to continue with planning and preparation work for the rollout.

Health Department secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks vaccinations would start in a small number of areas around the state for high-priority groups.

She said the second stage of the rollout would involve vaccinations at a number of general practitioner and respiratory clinics.

"The priority population groups will include quarantine and border workers, critical health care worker sub-groups, residential aged care and disability care staff, and residential aged care and disability residents," Ms Morgan-Wicks said.

The Queensland Government on Friday declared a three-day lockdown for residents in greater Brisbane after a case of the new strain of coronavirus was identified.

Mr Gutwein said there was no evidence yet of community transmission.

"The advice that we have is that this new strain is a completely different ball game so the best way to deal with it is to go harder and to go faster," Mr Gutwein said.

"As we know, the best way to control this virus is to be agile and act fast."

He said people from greater Brisbane would not be permitted to visit the state unless they were a Tasmanian resident.

Anyone who arrived in the state on Friday from greater Brisbane, including Tasmanian residents, were required to go into quarantine for up to 14 days.

Mr Gutwein said anyone in the state who had been in greater Brisbane area from January 2 needed to immediately self-isolate and monitor symptoms.

Mr Gutwein said the actions taken by New South Wales against its clusters appeared to be working with just four new coronavirus cases diagnosed on Friday.

Victoria recorded no new cases.

The highly infectious nature of the new strain of coronavirus means passengers on all flights, including domestic flights, will be mandatorily required to wear face masks.

Children under 12 years old do not have to wear masks neither do people with an exemption for health reasons.

Masks will need to be worn at Tasmanian airports and seaport terminals.

Spirit of Tasmania passengers will need to wear masks while outside their cabins.

Dr Veitch said the new variant of coronavirus from the United Kingdom had spread in 34 countries and was 50 per cent more infectious than the original coronavirus strain.

"It does not appear to cause more severe illness ... but it is more likely to spread to another person," he said.

"Because of its greater propensity to spread, it is almost certainly harder to control.

"We are going to see different strains of coronavirus over time. All viruses mutate, sometimes towards easier transmissibility."

Dr Veitch estimated there could be about 2000 people in Tasmania from greater Brisbane. A flight from Brisbane arrived in Tasmania after the greater region was declared a high-risk area.

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