Tasmania has declared a state of emergency and announced tough new border protections this morning, in an attempt to protect the state’s residents from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 crisis has, in just the past 24 hours, seen announcements from Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin that they would be completely suspending international flights. It has also left landmarks worldwide eerily empty.

Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein announced this morning that from midnight on Friday March 20th, all ‘non-essential travellers’ coming into the state will be ordered into mandatory 14 days’ quarantine.

He said he “made no apologies” for the new restrictions and announced that those violating the new measures may find themselves facing a penalty of up to $16,800 or six months in jail.

Essential travellers are considered those required to keep the state’s health system and trade operational.

In order to keep track of all arrivals into the state, including those returning home, all new arrivals will be asked to fill out a Tasmanian Arrivals Card. Initially announced on Monday, this card was originally intended to keep track of incoming international visitors.

Mr Gutwein did concede that some “exemptions on compassionate grounds that would be dealt with on a case by case basis” and he reiterated that the state would remain open to trade.

Tasmania has had 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but along with the ACT and WA, remains one of the states with the lowest number of cases.

In positive news, the Spirit of Tasmania ferry between Melbourne and Devonport, operated by the TT-Line, will continue to run and carry freight, despite expectations that demand is likely to continue to drop.