Table 1 Timeline of COVID-19 restrictions in Tasmania, and relevant restrictions related to food access and supply (information sourced from: [18,19,20,21])
Date | Timeline |
|---|---|
2nd March 2020 | The Director of Public Health confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Tasmania. |
17th March 2020 | The Director of Public Health declared a Public Health Emergency for Tasmania. |
19th March 2020 | The Premier declared a State of Emergency under section 42 of the Emergency Management Act 2006. This included directions related to border restrictions, quarantine requirements and ‘stay at home’ requirements. Non-essential businesses, including food outlets were required to close. |
2nd April 2020 | The Premier announced additional restrictions, including the closure of farmers markets. |
12th April – 1st May 2020 | In response to an outbreak additional restrictions were imposed in specific areas of the North-West for 14 days with most retail businesses required to close. |
27th April 2020 | The Coronavirus Supplement was implemented for people receiving government income support payments (such as pensions and unemployment benefits – called JobSeeker), with a 61% increase in number of Tasmanian residents accessing JobSeeker payments between mid-2019 and mid-2020 as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions [21]. A wage subsidy program was also introduced for those retained by their employers but currently not working (JobKeeper). Figures of the number of JobKeeper recipients is not available. |
18th May 2020 | Stage One easing of restrictions, which included the opening of small food outlets for up to 10 patrons at a time. |
5th June 2020 | Stage Two easing of restrictions, which included intrastate travel, the opening of more businesses and food outlets able to seat up to 20 patrons at a time. |
17th – 26th June 2020 | Stage Three easing of restrictions. Markets, food outlets and food vans were able to open if they could maintain the “one person per 2 square metres” rule. Up to 250 people allowed to gather indoors and 500 outdoors. State borders remained closed to non-essential travellers without quarantine. |
28th March 2021 | The JobKeeper scheme ended. |
31st March 2021 | The Coronavirus Supplement was ceased and as a result unemployment (JobSeeker) and age-pension income support payments were reduced to slightly above pre-pandemic levels. |