WA Premier Mark McGowan has announced an end to the snap lockdown for Perth and Peel from 12:01am Tuesday, April 27 after zero new cases of COVID-19 community transmission were recorded.
Editor’s note: This article has been last updated on Monday, April 26 to reflect new State Government advice.
The Premier on Friday announced a three-day lockdown for the Perth and Peel regions after it confirmed the first cases of COVID-19 community transmission in WA in more than a year.
At 12:30pm Monday April 26, he confirmed the lockdown would end at 12.01am Tuesday, April 27, but with some continued restrictions until 12.01am Saturday, May 1 including:
- masks remain mandatory indoors, outdoors and on public transport – masks are not required for children aged 12 or under, those conducting vigorous exercise or with an exemption;
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the State Government advises that if people can work from home, they are encouraged to do so to help limit the movement of people;
- schools and TAFE campuses will re-open but universities will be open for online learning only;
- 20-person limit in all homes and private indoor and outdoor gatherings;
- 4sqm capacity rule and 20 patron limit for cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs – for seated food and drink service only;
- 4sqm capacity rule and 20 patron limit for beauty salons, hairdressers and barbers;
- recreation centres, outdoor playgrounds, museums, swimming pools, entertainment venues and places of worships can open with the 4sqm capacity rule and 20 patron limit;
- fitness clubs, gyms, casinos and nightclubs remain closed;
- no visitors to aged and disability facilities and hospitals, except for compassionate reasons and advocacy;
- weddings and funerals can proceed with up to 100 guests with an exemption and a COVID-Event plan in place; and
- professional and community sports, including training, allowed but without spectators.
Read the Premier’s updated media statement here.
As of 1:45pm Sunday, April 25 WA had recorded a total of three cases of community transmission, including the two cases that prompted the lockdown.
The lockdown began at 12:01am on Saturday, April 24.
During that time, Perth and Peel residents are only allowed to leave their home for the following reasons:
- work if it is not possible to work from home;
- shopping for essentials like groceries, medicine and necessary supplies;
- for medical treatment or to provide care for others; and
- exercise, for a maximum of one hour a day with up to four people in your household and within a 5 km radius of home.
From 6:00pm on Friday, anyone aged 12 or older must wear a mask at all times except when in their own home, in a car with members of the same household or undergoing vigorous exercise.
For anyone who has travelled outside of Perth and Peel for the long weekend, the same lockdown restrictions apply to you regardless of where you are holidaying if you were in Perth and Peel between 12:01am on April 17 and 12:01am on April 24.
The lockdown was sparked by a man who underwent quarantine at a Perth hotel and later tested positive after arriving on a flight from Perth to Melbourne.
In the five days he spent in Perth after completing quarantine he stayed with a friend in Kardinya, who has since also tested positive. The third COVID case is a person who dined at the same restaurant as the man and his friend.
An up-to-date list of exposure sites can be found here.
As a result of the lockdown a range of businesses have had to close or trade with restrictions.
- Restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars to provide takeaway service only;
- Casinos, nightclubs, entertainment venues and public venues to close;
- Community sport is not permitted; professional sport to proceed without crowds; and
- Events and functions are not permitted, with the exception of weddings and funerals which have a limit of 100 patrons, not including staff.
ANZAC Day services have been cancelled across the Perth and Peel regions.
CCIWA CEO Chris Rodwell said the chamber supported the lockdown to protect people’s health and avoid longer-term economic consequences from a protracted shutdown but called on the State Government to support businesses.
“The compensation offered following the lockdown in February was insufficient to compensate these businesses, and we call on the State Government to ensure appropriate compensation is provided,” he said.
“It is unfair that these small business owners must bear the financial costs of lockdowns on behalf of society.”
For more on CCIWA’s response, see our media statement.
For more information see our dedicated COVID-19 website covid19.cciwasandstg.wpenginepowered.com.
Our Employee Relations Advice Centre will be open from 8:00am on Tuesday, April 27 on (08) 9365 7660 to answer your queries.
For practical help with responding to the impact of the latest lockdown see our members-only Business Toolbox.