Tasmanians will be required to wear face masks at both indoor and outdoor events with more than 1000 people in attendance from the start of next weekend.
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Premier Peter Gutwein made the announcement on Friday, and said mask wearing in settings like these was "something we're going to have to get used to" given the risk of COVID transmission at larger events, should the virus enter Tasmania.
"I think it's a very sensible decision," he said.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said having unknowingly infectious people attend large events could be the greatest risk to coronavirus spreading quickly in Tasmania, and masks could mitigate this.
"We know how much coronavirus there is in some of the mainland states, and that poses a risk to Tasmania that we can control to a very substantial effect with our border measures, but we can't completely eliminate the risk," Dr Veitch said.
"The worst thing that possibly could happen would be a person who is in infectious with coronavirus, doesn't know they've got it, and mixes in a large crowd. That would really amplify coronavirus in the Tasmanian community, and potentially put it beyond easy control.
"By requiring masks in events of 1000 people and up, it gives me and others who are approving these events some comfort that as a step being taken to mitigate the risk of those larger numbers of people assembling, and we can more confidently enable those events to proceed.
"It's a cheap intervention. We know that it does help prevent transmission."
Mr Gutwein also confirmed there would be no "conscientious" exemptions for mandatory vaccinations.
This week, Tasmanian Catholic Archbishop Julian Porteous had pushed for priests who work in aged care settings to be granted such an exemption, but this has been refused.
Department of Health secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said vaccination uptake had been "positive" in independent schools, including Catholic schools.
She said "religion is not a factor" in vaccination exemptions.
"With all respect to the commentary that's occurring in relation to the conscientious objection, I really do need to think about the fact there is also a conscientious objection to preventable death," Ms Morgan-Wicks said.
"It is considerable to have a vaccine that is available that can assist and help with our age groups, particularly as we have got portions of our community that are unable to be vaccinated.
"I respect absolutely all of the commentary in relation to conscientious objection, but that's not something that's going to come into our public health direction and our mandatory vaccination rates."
Vaccination rates ahead of schedule
Tasmania reached 64 per cent of its population with a first dose of the vaccination this week and 47 per cent with a second dose. These levels were expected by mid-September.
"We're actually a week in front of ourselves," Mr Gutwein said.
He said Tasmania was expected to reach 70 per cent first dose within a week, and 70 per cent fully vaccinated by mid-October.
"As long as people keep turning up, we should have reached our 80% fully vaccinated some time in late October or early November," he said.
"The clear message has to be, please keep turning up."
As of next week, Tasmanians aged 12 to 15 - about 20,000 children - will be able to receive a vaccination.
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They will not be included in Tasmania's percentage targets, and their vaccination rates will be reported separately.
More than 284,000 Tasmanians have received their first dose, and 207,500 have received two doses.
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