Everything you need to know about the latest Perth COVID-19 update and the 5-day Perth lockdown.
Just a month into 2021, Perth is going into a hard five-day lockdown. Here’s everything you need to know about it, and how you will be affected:
Why the Perth lockdown?
After 10 months of recording no community transmission, Premier Mark McGowan announced the streak was over with the diagnosis of a security guard at one of Perth’s quarantine sites – the Sheraton Four Points Hotel.
The guard, who is in his 20s, was working at the hotel when four positive COVID cases had ben confirmed – two with the UK variant and one with the South African strain.
Both COVID-19 variants are more infectious than the original virus detected last year.
The guard is also a rideshare driver and lives with three people in Maylands, all of whom have so far returned negative COVID tests, but that is expected to change.
The WA Government has released huge list of exposure sites, but Mr McGowan says the lockdown is a “precautionary measure”.
Perth Lockdown details
The areas that will be lockdown from 6pm tonight include the Perth metropolitan area, Peel and the South West.
Bars, clubs, gyms, cinemas, casinos, libraries and places of worship will all be shut down.
Cafes and restaurants will only be allowed to do take away.
All weddings have been banned, and schools will be closed for the next five days.
Funerals are capped at 10 people and no visitors are allowed in people’s homes or aged care facilities unless for emergencies or special circumstances.
Western Australians are only allowed to travel to shop for essentials or exercise alone within their neighbourhood.
Masks are now mandatory for whenever people leave home and anyone who can work remotely has been urged to do so.
“To be clear, mask-wearing on public transport is also mandatory,” Mr McGowan said.
Anyone currently in WA from another region should stay put.
“We are strongly encouraging that everyone in this area who is from another WA region, stay here,” Mr McGowan said.
“Do not travel further outside of this area until the lockdown is over.”
Increased COVID-19 testing in Perth
Many testing centres will stay open until 10pm today, with testing to ramp up over the week.
The main metro testing sites are:
- Fiona Stanley Hospital,
- Royal Perth Hospital, Ground Floor, Ainslie House, 48 Murray Street, Perth
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
- Joondalup Hospital
- Armadale Health Service
- Rockingham General Hospital
- St John of God Midland Hospital
Information on other testing sites can be found here healthywa.wa.gov.au.
WA exposure sites
The WA Government has released an extensive list of exposure sites.
Anyone who has visited the below locations and the specified times must go and get tested immediately.
Read more: List Of Current Perth COVID-19 Hotspots
Watch: Full media conference of Perth Lockdown announcement with Mark McGowan
Feature image: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright
For more information visit health.wa.gov.au
Stay up to date with the latest Perth news on SoPerth.com.au.
