The Perth and Peel restrictions will end as planned at 12.01am, Sunday, February 14.
This means the whole of Western Australia will return to the pre-lockdown conditions, as experienced prior to 6pm on Sunday, January 31.
The Chief Health Officer has advised that the full 14-day incubation period is on track to run its course, with no indication of any community transmission.
As a result, from Sunday masks will no longer be required to be worn either inside or outside, there will be no travel restrictions in WA, except for remote Aboriginal communities and mandatory contact registration will continue, as was planned prior to the lockdown.
WA's controlled interstate border and capacity restrictions which were in place prior to the snap five-day lockdown will be in place, pending ongoing health advice.
Western Australians should continue to practise physical distancing where possible, maintain good personal hygiene at all times and get tested when unwell.
It is vital that all Western Australians ensure they are registering their contact details, at businesses and venues where contact registers are mandatory, to assist contact tracing if it is required.
As was the case before the lockdown, public or private events involving more than 500 patrons that require local government authority approval will need an approved COVID Event Plan as part of that process.
The Chief Health Officer has also given updated advice on the situation in NSW, with the last community case of COVID-19 recorded on January 15, NSW is due to reach 28 days of no community transmission today.
As a result, NSW will move from 'low risk' to 'very low risk' at 12.01am, on Tuesday, February 16, pending no further outbreaks.
Under the 'very low risk' category, safe travel is permitted into WA subject to the following updated conditions:
- completion of a G2G Pass declaration, stipulating they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and which jurisdictions the traveller has been in over the previous 14 days;
- all Perth Airport arrivals to undergo a health screening and temperature test;
- travellers to be prepared to take a COVID-19 test at the airport COVID clinic, if deemed necessary by a health clinician (voluntary asymptomatic testing also available); and
- land arrivals to be met at the border checkpoint, for a health screening and to have their G2G Pass declaration checked.
This will mean all other Australian jurisdictions will be classified in the 'very low risk' category, except Victoria.
Given the concerning situation in Victoria, the Chief Health Officer has recommended Victoria be reclassified as 'medium risk' for a short period, until the situation is controlled.
As a result, Victoria arrivals at Perth Airport today will be tested at the airport before going into their 14 days of self-quarantine. Beginning tonight, from 6pm, the 'medium risk' category will come into force until at least 12.01am, Tuesday, February 16, pending updated health advice.
The 72 hour hard border with Victoria means only exempt travellers are permitted. The exemption list is limited to:
- certain senior Government officials;
- certain active military personnel;
- a member of the Commonwealth Parliament;
- a person carrying out functions under a law of the Commonwealth;
- a person responsible for transport freight or logistics; and
- anyone who is given approval by State Emergency Coordinator or an authorised officer.
The final category includes compassionate reasons - including those Western Australians that may have travelled to Victoria recently and need to return to WA.
These people will be assessed by WA Police and will be required to complete 14 days of self-quarantine and be tested for COVID-19 on arrival and on day 11.
For more information on the new conditions visit http://www.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"As a result of Western Australia's swift response, from Sunday we can now go back to where we were before the snap five-day lockdown.
"Western Australia's controlled interstate border continues to be a key component of the State's defence against COVID-19, and based on the latest health advice we can transition NSW to the 'very low risk' category.
"However, given the concerning developments in Victoria, the Chief Health Officer has recommended we put in place a 72 hour hard border with Victoria, until we see what happens."
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"The response after Case 903 tested positive was effective in stopping community spread of COVID-19.
"We will continue to act on the best health advice, as we have today, with important updates to WA's controlled interstate border."
