Western Australia has recorded one new case of COVID-19 in the community overnight in relation to New South Wales travel.
As a result, and until public health can confirm if the virus has spread, restrictions will come into effect immediately for the Perth-Peel region for a minimum period of three days.
These restrictions include:
- Mandatory mask wearing indoors, on public transport, and outdoors where physical distancing is not possible. Primary school students and those who are exempt are not required to wear masks;
- Public events that cannot be restricted to 150 people will be cancelled or played without spectators today including the Chicken and Beer Festival and West Coast Eagles vs Western Bulldogs AFL match at Optus Stadium - the match will proceed but without spectators;
- 30-person limit in all homes for private gatherings;
- Hospitality, entertainment venues (including casino and nightclubs), retail, beauty/hairdressers, recreation centres (including gyms, pilates, yoga, dance and swimming pools) and places of worship can remain open but must comply with the two square metre rule, with a maximum of 150 patrons;
- Community sport is permitted;
- Weddings and funerals can also proceed but will be limited to a maximum of 150 attendees;
- Hospitals will have a maximum of four personal visitors permitted per patient per day - masks will be mandatory for staff and visitors; and
- Anyone who enters a regional area from the Perth-Peel region is required to wear a mask as per requirements in Perth-Peel, and travel should be minimised. Travel to remote Aboriginal communities will be restricted.
All these measures will be reviewed regularly and the Chief Health Officer will continue to monitor the serious situation and provide more ongoing advice. Visit https://www.wa.gov.au for further information.
The Department of Health is working through the case and is in the process of identifying close and casual contacts, and locations visited.
All information to date indicates the individual did everything right. They returned a negative test upon return from NSW, used the SafeWA app, did not attend work when they became unwell and received subsequent testing - which returned a positive result.
More information will be released as soon as possible.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"As a result of this community case and the evolving situation around Australia, restrictions are being introduced immediately for people in the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region.
"We cannot afford to take any risks with this virus, so we must introduce these restrictions in the short term.
"In light of this developing situation, it is absolutely critical we do what we know best, maintain physical distancing and personal hygiene and get tested if you develop symptoms.
"I know this is frustrating, but we must follow the health advice and do everything we can to minimise community spread."
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"The decision to enforce restrictions immediately will ensure that Western Australia can effectively monitor the situation and reduce the risk of community spread.
"These short-term measures are necessary to allow WA to return to its enviable way of life as soon as possible.
"We ask for the support of the community at this time and ask that people do not be complacent. If you are symptomatic, get tested.
"If you are eligible for a vaccination, roll up your sleeve - to protect you and the community."
