Essential workers Joshua van Wyk and Megan Flatt arrived at the Northcote testing centre at 7.10am to find about 200 cars in front of them in the queue. Video / Adam Pearse
The Tasmanian Premier has announced a "lockdown plan" despite the state having zero active Covid-19 cases in the community.
Peter Gutwein said he was not declaring a lockdown at Friday's morning announcement, instead providing Tasmanians with a plan if a Covid-19 situation was to suddenly escalate.
Gutwein said the stategovernment's intention would be "to go in as hard as we possibly can" and then "come out quickly".
That would mean a snap lockdown of three to five days, he told reporters.
"What we're doing is putting out a plan to indicate to people what could, and will occur," the Premier said.
Gutwein said depending on the type of outbreak, officials would base the rules on public health advice at the time.
But Gutwein said Tasmanians could be assured they would be able to shop for essential items, go out for medical reasons, get tested for Covid-19 and get the vaccination.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein is preparing the state for a Covid outbreak and lockdown while the state currently has zero cases. Photo / Netflix
"Whether it's applied to the whole state, or to a regional area will depend on the circumstances of the incursion and the advice of public health.
"There are locked down plan details on restrictions for businesses, on gatherings, home visits and access to aged care facilities and hospitals as well as the use of face masks.
"There is a clear list of authorised businesses and authorised workers based on central needs and operations."
Gutwein said there was no "magic number to trigger a lockdown and how long lockdown will last".
"We're not in lockdown, I want to make that perfectly clear.
"I encourage all Tasmanians to familiarise themselves with the plan that we're putting out today."
The two-page plan will be provided on the state government's website later on Friday.
About 34.5 per cent of eligible Tasmanians are fully vaccinated, with 54.6 per cent of the state's population having received one dose.
Tasmania's border is shut to NSW which was deemed a tier one high-risk area, while Victoria and the Litchfield and Katherine local government areas in Northern Territory were deemed tier two high risk.
