Fingers are crossed among Western Australians because, as of 5 May, there have been no new community COVID-19 cases, meaning WA restrictions are likely to ease this weekend.
The fear of another State Government-enforced lockdown follows the three-day snap lockdown Perth and Peel experienced from 24 to 26 April and subsequently the announcement of three people who tested positive for COVID-19 in Perth last weekend.
The source case, a Perth hotel quarantine guard, was infectious in the community for four days.
Authorities will today (6 May) make a final decision on whether restrictions can be eased by the weekend, provided WA records another day of no community-transmitted cases.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB released a statement addressed to the faithful on Friday, 30 April.
The document formally addressed the easing of restrictions for the Perth and Peel regions from 1 May to 12.01am Saturday, 8 May, with the following points:
- places of worship can reopen to 100 per cent capacity;
- face masks are mandatory for indoor public venues, including in the workplace and on public transport unless exemptions apply;
- anyone who has been in the Perth or Peel regions since April 17 but has since travelled to another region must also wear a mask subject to the above conditions;
- a 30-person limit in all homes for private gatherings;
- one household can visit a patient per day in a hospital, aged care or disability facility;
- it is mandatory for places of worship and all Archdiocesan workplaces to have available the SafeWA App and/or paper-based contact register for clergy, parishioners, staff, contractors and visitors; and,
- anyone in an unaffected region who has been in Perth or Peel since 17 April must comply with mask-wearing requirements.
Laws that enable the McGowan Government robust control over WA to manage the COVID-19 pandemic will be extended with a new bill introduced to Parliament on 5 May.
The bill amends the Emergency Management Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020
and the Criminal Code Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020 to allow the state to manage its borders, enforce quarantine rules, and conduct contact tracing.
The new bill will also increase penalties of up to 10 years jail for anyone who deliberately coughs or spits on police.
WA Premier Mark McGowan said the extension of the laws until 4 January 2022 was necessary because coronavirus remains a threat to the community.
The WA Government’s full announcement outlining all restrictions relevant to the lockdown can be found at: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/perth-and-peel-lockdown-restrictions-ease-further