Australia’s Tasmania is coronavirus-free, but economy reels from closed borders
- The island has not recorded any local transmission in the past four months, after it decided to cut itself off from the mainland early
- The Covid-19 victory has come at a cost for Tasmania, where almost 1 in 5 jobs is reliant on tourism
In the southernmost reaches of Australia, the pristine island of Tasmania has virtually eliminated the coronavirus by cutting itself off from the mainland.
The remote state’s four-month run without local transmission puts it among the world’s most successful places in curbing the Covid-19 disease.
But the economic cost for the island, where almost 1 in 5 jobs is reliant on tourism, is mounting.
“It’s been devastating,” said Robert Pennicott from his base at Hobart’s picturesque harbour.
With the state’s border closed to non-residents since April, his wilderness tour business is running at just 20 per cent capacity, with most of his 17 boats idle. “Tasmania is full of innovative owner-operators, but a lot won’t get through to the other side,” the 55-year-old said.
