Western Australia outlines post-lockdown plan

Western Australia outlines post-lockdown plan

Pending no further locally acquired COVID-19 cases in Western Australia, the state will emerge from its five-day lockdown period at 6pm (AWST) tonight, but some restrictions will stay in place.

The South-West region will return immediately to pre-lockdown conditions from 6pm, in line with the rest of regional WA.

However, the Perth and Peel regions will be subject to transitional restrictions until 12.01am, Sunday, 14 February.

The post lockdown transitional measures for the Perth and Peel regions, include:

  • Everyone must continue to wear a mask in public and while at work, unless exempt or for outdoor vigorous exercise;
  • All business and venues can re-open, except for the casino and nightclubs;
  • 4 square metre capacity rule and 150-person capacity at hospitality, entertainment, fitness venues and events including weddings, funerals (excluding staff);
  • community sport can involve up to 150 people including players, officials and spectators;
  • Seated service only at hospitality venues;
  • Dancing only permitted at weddings and dance studios;
  • 20-person limit for private indoor and outdoor gatherings;
  • Visits to aged care and disability care facilities restricted to compassionate grounds and advocates;
  • Residential school and boarding facilities can resume with a COVID Safety Plan; and
  • Only essential travel, including work, is permitted in and out of the Perth and Peel regions to other parts of WA.

Under the post-lockdown transition measures, Perth and Peel schools will start from Monday, February 8, with the mandatory mask rule applying to all school staff and secondary students. Masks are not required for primary school students.

Masks are also mandatory for staff at childcare facilities as well as students and staff in higher education, including TAFEs and universities.

Elective surgery at WA public hospitals will resume and people will be contacted directly to re-schedule and re-book their appointments which were suspended due to the five-day lockdown.

FIFO workers will once again be able to leave the Perth and Peel regions, but documentation will be required, and they must follow strict health protocols.

Pre-lockdown requirements for the entire State still remain in place, and include:

  • Mandatory contact registers for most WA businesses and venues;
  • Capacity restrictions for major venues;
  • Restrictions on travel to remote Aboriginal communities; and
  • WA's controlled interstate border arrangements.

WA Premier Mack McGowan has thanked West Australians for their cooperation during the lockdown period.

"It's been a simply remarkable achievement and the credit goes to each and every Western Australian who made sacrifices this week to keep the community safe and get our State back to normal as soon as possible," he said.

"While the lockdown will end tomorrow and people in Perth, Peel and the South-West regions will be able to leave their homes, a number of restrictions will remain in place and particularly for Perth and Peel, a new transitional arrangement will be in place until next Sunday.

"As always, we'll continue to monitor the situation closely, and if we need to make any changes, we will."

WA recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 yesterday.

Updated at 9.56am AEDT on 5 February 2021.

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