Post-lockdown restrictions in Perth and Peel to ease at midnight tonight

The regions of Perth and Peel in Western Australia will snap back to life tomorrow when many COVID-19 restrictions ease, but minor transitional controls will remain in place for another week.

The easing of restrictions from 12.01am on Saturday 1 May will see the two regions move closer to the return of pre-lockdown life, but the state's chief health officer says Perth and Peel will need to see through the full 14-day incubation period before all restrictions can be removed.

The changes come after the WA regions emerged from a three-day lockdown at 12.01am on Tuesday 28 April, imposed in response to the state recording a case of COVID-19 last week - WA's first instance of community transmission in over a year.

The following eased transitional restrictions will take effect from tomorrow until 8 May:

• Masks are not required outside except where physical distancing is not possible;
• Masks are mandatory for indoor public venues, including in the workplace and on public transport.
• Anyone who has been in the Perth or Peel regions since April 17 but has since travelled to another region must also wear a mask subject to the above conditions;
• 30-person limit in all homes for private gatherings;
• Nightclubs can open subject to the four square metre rule, with masks mandatory;
• Indoor and outdoor community sport can resume with spectators;
• Indoor weddings and funerals permitted for up to 200 guests without an exemption;
• Outdoor gatherings can take place with up to 500 people without a COVID event plan;
• One household can visit a patient per day in a hospital, aged care or disability facility; and
• Major stadiums, including Optus Stadium, RAC Arena and HBF Park can operate at 75 per cent capacity.

The following pre-lockdown measures will resume from 12.01am Saturday, 1 May:

• Seated hospitality venues, including restaurants, cafés, food courts and bars that provide seated service only, can open at 75 per cent capacity or apply the 2sqm rule - whichever is greater;
• Gyms, fitness centres, dance studios, beauty salons and hairdressers can open with the two square metre rule in place; and
• Public venues, including community centres, libraries, museums, galleries and recreation centres, can open with the two square metre rule in place.

Schools and childcare centres will remain open with the mandatory mask rule applying to all school staff and secondary students.

Further, all elective surgeries can resume, and places of worship can reopen to 100 per cent capacity.

"I'd like to personally thank each and every person in the Perth and Peel regions for their efforts during this difficult time. We are not out of the woods yet but so far things are looking very positive," says WA Premier Mark McGowan.

"The easing of restrictions means all businesses and workplaces will be able to reopen. It will see some of our hardest hit sectors - like hospitality - snap back to pre-lockdown restrictions - providing welcome relief for many small operators.

"It is my hope - and my expectation - that from Saturday, May 8, these relatively minor restrictions will be able to come off - and we completely return to where we were at before the lockdown."

Updated at 9.53am AEST on 30 April 2021.