Southern Tasmanian Anglican Churches closed on 17 October due to 3-day snap lockdown

Published: Friday 15 October, 3.43pm

Premier Peter Gutwein has announced a snap 3-day lockdown for Southern Tasmania, beginning at 6pm on Friday 15 October and ending at 6pm on Monday 18 October, subject to Public Health advice at that time. This includes the local government areas of: Hobart, Glenorchy, Brighton, Central Highlands, Southern Midlands, Derwent Valley, Huon Valley, Kingborough, Clarence City, Sorell, Tasman and Glamorgan-Spring Bay.

Read what you can and cannot do during the lockdown.

In cooperation with the Public Health Orders, all Anglican Churches in Southern Tasmania will be closed on Sunday 17 October.

The following is extracted from relevant parts of www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

All places of worship, religious gatherings, religious premises and other similar premises must close, unless those premises are being operated:

  • to live-stream a religious ceremony, with no more than 3 people present (one person to conduct and one to video and one to provide Auslan interpretation).
  • to perform a wedding, with no more than 5 persons present (and where one of the parties getting married, or one of the witnesses of the parties getting married is receiving end of life care)
  • to perform a funeral, where the total number of people present at the funeral does not exceed 10 persons, not including persons under 12 months of age; or the persons present to conduct the ceremony.

WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS

  • Weddings cannot be held, unless for compassionate reasons and then only five people can attend – the couple, two witnesses and a celebrant.
  • Compassionate reasons include a member of the bridal couple or witness being towards the end of life.
  • No more than 10 guests can attend funerals. The 10-person limit does not include children under 12 months or staff conducting the funeral.
  • Physical distancing (1.5m) and density limits (1 person per four square metres) apply to funerals and weddings.

IN YOUR HOME

Under the lockdown, you are not permited to have visitors to homes unless:

  • The visitor is supporting a vulnerable person
  • They are visiting as part of a significant relationship
  • They are visiting as part of a visitor “bubble” with someone who lives alone and who is not in a significant relationship with anyone else
  • They are receiving health, medical, emergency or other permitted care in the home
  • They are people in significant relationships can visit their partner, but should try to select one home to live in during lockdown. There must be only one guest at a home at any one time, if more than one person in the home has a significant relation who lives elsewhere.
  • They are people living alone – apart from with children – who are not in a significant relationship, can have one other person visit their home. The visitor does not have to be single or living alone, however, the visitor must not be visiting anyone else as part of a “bubble”.

HOSPITALS

Permitted visitors at hospitals:

  • A person who is a patient
  • The person is employed or engaged at the hospital, or a student undertaking clinical placement
  • The person is providing goods or services necessary for the operation of the hospital
  • The person is providing health and medical services to a patient at the hospital, for example a visiting specialist
  • The person is the parent or guardian of a child who is a patient
  • The person is assisting a patient with mobility, communication, or comprehension difficulties or is assisting with legal or administrative requirements
  • A nominated support person for a patient giving birth
  • A person who is providing end of life support for a patient at the hospital
  • In an emergency at the hospital
  • A person is providing support to a patient who is suffering from dementia or similar condition and the person is required by the hospital to assist in reducing distress or confusion in the patient

AGED CARE HOMES

Permitted visitors at residential aged care homes:

  • A person who is a resident
  • The person is employed or engaged by the facility
  • The person is providing goods or services necessary for the operation of the facility
  • The person is providing goods or services to a resident
  • A person who is providing end of life support for a resident at the facility
  • In an emergency
  • A person is providing support to a resident who is suffering from dementia or similar condition and the person is required by the operator of the facility to assist in reducing distress or confusion in the resident

What do you need to do?

You will need to make arrangements for online church this coming Sunday. Bear in mind that the only people allowed at the church venue to live stream a service will be one minister, one videographer and one AUSLAN interpreter. If you cannot livestream within these limitations, you can:

  • Stream a service from another Anglican Church in the Diocese of Tasmania. Find a church service here.
  • If you must leave your home, facemasks must be worn outside the home by everyone aged 12 years and older. This includes when shopping, exercising or when in a public space. This doesn’t apply to primary school students, or people who have a medical exemption. You must carry a mask with you at all times, in case it is unexpectedly required.
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