WA lockdown replaced by week of ‘post-lockdown’ rules

Perth’s five-day lockdown will end as planned at 6pm today – pending no further local cases – with a “transition” period of restrictions to take its place for a further week, the Premier has announced.

Mark McGowan said the post-lockdown transition period for the Perth and Peel regions would come into effect from 6pm and remain in place until 12.01am Sunday, 14 February – allowing for the full 14-day incubation period to run its course.

“The South-West region will return to pre-lockdown conditions from 6pm Friday, February 5,” the Premier said.

“Western Australians must continue to practise physical distancing where possible and maintain good personal hygiene at all times.”

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. 

“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,” the Premier said.

“As always, we’ll continue to monitor the situation closely, and if we need to make any changes, we will.”

Under the post-lockdown transition measures, Perth and Peel schools will resume 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 will also be mandatory for staff at childcare facilities as well as students and staff in higher education, including TAFEs and universities. 

“Teaching staff are permitted to remove their mask when teaching at the front of the classroom to enable clear enunciation,” the Premier said.

“People who need to leave the Perth and Peel region for essential purposes must wear a mask at all times in other regions of WA, as per the rules in place in Perth and Peel.”

He said elective surgery at WA public hospitals would resume and patients would 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.

“COVID-safe measures including the use of contact registers and SafeWA will continue to be crucial as part of post-lockdown life. To date the onus has been on businesses to ensure a contact register is available for patrons,” the Premier said.

“From 6pm tomorrow the responsibility will be shared – individuals will now also face penalties if they fail to scan in using either SafeWA or the contact register available. As always, authorities will apply a common-sense approach.”

Health Minister, Roger Cook said the past week had put “unprecedented pressure” on the state’s COVID-19 response systems.

“Our health professionals have reacted superbly,” Mr Cook said.

“An overnight surge in our contact tracing team saw them swing into action to track down hundreds of close and casual contacts of Case 903.

“At the same time our testing clinics and private pathology partners handled tens of thousands of tests fast and efficiently.

“But none of this would have been possible without the spectacular co-operation of the Western Australian public. I thank every one of you. Let’s keep it going and continue to be vigilant. Please remember, if you are feeling at all unwell, get yourself tested.”

For more information on WA’s post-lockdown plans visit http://www.wa.gov.au