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Cygnet Folk Festival cancelled
Another major event in Tasmania has been cancelled due to coronavirus. Organisers of the Cygnet Folk Festival in the state's south say the 6000 attendees brought to the township every January posed an "unacceptable health risk". It was also thought the basic… -
Expanded testing criteria
Tasmania has now gone 8 days without recording a new case of coronavirus. As of 12pm Sunday, there were only 11 active cases across the state: 10 from the North West and 1 from the North. Nearly 25,000 COVID-19 tests have been carried out here, but the state… -
Taste hangs in the balance
A decision is imminent on whether there'll be a one-off cancellation of the Taste of Tasmania. Due to doubts over the future for large gatherings because of coronavirus and crashing revenue, Hobart City Council staff advice is to drop the summer spectacle… -
Roads to be upgraded in council funding boost
Tasmanian councils will share in over $16 million from the federal government to upgrade local roads and infrastructure in the post-COVID-19 economy. Canberra is injecting $500 million into local government coffers as part of the new Local Road and Community… -
New police fine powers
Tasmania Police are now able to dish out on-the-spot fines for those flouting pandemic restrictions. Previously, flagrant offenders could only be arrested or issued with a court summons. Police, ADF and SES personnel have been busy conducting 13,400… -
Latest snapshot of the coronavirus impact 21/5/20
The latest snapshot of COVID-19 cases, measures and impacts as of 0730 AEST on May 21. CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS * Australia has recorded 7079 cases, with only 635 active cases remaining. SA and the ACT have no active cases, the NT has one. * The national death… -
Latest snapshot of the coronavirus impact 20/5/20
The latest snapshot of COVID-19 cases, measures and impacts as of 0730 AEST on May 20. CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS * Australia has recorded about 7068 cases, with under 700 active cases. * The national death toll is 100 - NSW 49, Victoria 18, Tasmania 13, WA 9,… -
Regional NSW travel to recommence June 1
NSW residents will be able to head to the state's regions for holidays in less than a fortnight under a relaxation of COVID-19 travel restrictions. Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday announced recreational regional travel within the state will be allowed… -
Qld govt cash splash to heal sick economy
Queensland will spend billions of dollars to revive the state's ailing economy and get people back into work following the coronavirus lockdown. The stimulus package, including $400 million for roads, bridges and footpaths, was announced in Parliament House… -
Infected children may be less contagious
There are tentative signs children may not spread the novel coronavirus as much as adults, two top epidemiologists say. However they said the bad news was that human immunity may not last that long. As many countries start to return to work after lockdowns… -
Virus forces 17pc drop in global emissions
Restrictions in place because of coronavirus resulted in global emissions declining by 17 per cent in April, a new study reveals. The preliminary analysis was published in Nature Climate Change on Wednesday and is the effort of a global team including… -
WHO members agree on COVID-19 strategy
Any future vaccine and medication for the novel coronavirus must be made available cheaply to the world "as a global priority," World Health Organization members (WHO) agreed on Tuesday in a meeting that was overshadowed by US threats to leave the agency. In… -
Tas renters receive help
$2,000 or four weeks rent is being offered by the state government to Tasmanian tenants facing extreme hardship. The COVID19 Rent Relief Fund is eligible for those with less than $5,000 in savings and who pay more than 30 per cent of their income in rent.… -
Latest snapshot of the coronavirus impact 19/5/20
The latest snapshot of COVID-19 cases, measures and impacts as of 0730 AEST on May 19. CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS * Australia has recorded about 7060 cases, but only 567 remain active. * The national death toll is 99 - NSW 48, Victoria 18, Tasmania 13, WA 9,… -
States urged to open borders for tourists
Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham has urged state and territory governments to open borders to domestic holiday-makers when safe. Queensland has flagged border closures with southern states until at least September, prompting despair from tourism groups. WA… -
Qld feared tide of cases from sick nurse
Authorities feared thousands of coronavirus infections would emerge every day after a sick nurse continued to work at a Queensland nursing home. Health Minister Stephen Miles has revealed the scale of the emergency authorities were braced for in North… -
Virus vaccine from Moderna shows promise
Virus vaccine from Moderna shows promise (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) Moderna Inc's experimental COVID-19 vaccine, the first to be tested in the US, has produced protective antibodies in a small group of healthy volunteers, according to very early data… -
Coroner to probe deaths
Two deaths at Burnie's North West Regional Hospital have been referred to the coroner. Health authorities say a man died on Sunday morning and a woman early on Monday. Both were aged in their 60s. The pair had previously tested positive to Covid-19 but also… -
WHO agrees to virus probe after Aust push
World Health Organisation agrees to virus probe after Australia push (Bigstock) Australia's push for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic has been vindicated globally with widespread backing of the probe, including from China. More than 110… -
Trump backs Aust push for COVID-19 probe
US President Donald Trump backs Australia's push for COVID-19 probe (Bigstock) Donald Trump has enthusiastically told his 80 million Twitter followers he is behind the Australian-backed push for an independent COVID-19 inquiry. The US president retweeted an…