Perth and WA COVID restrictions to ease from March 31st.

Today Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan announced the first transition for post-COVID life in Western Australia with a date for the easing of level 2 restrictions.

“Western Australia’s soft landing through the Omicron wave is on track – with COVID-19 hospitalisations and ICU admissions lower than expected thanks to our world-leading vaccination rate.

“Given this, we can now ease most Level 2 measures back to modified Level 1 measures after only four weeks – just as we had planned,” said Mr McGowan.

The decision to ease restrictions is based on the latest health advice.

The level 2 measures were introduced on March 3, the same day as the full border reopening.

What will the new restrictions be?

Current public health and social measures (PHSM) will be eased from 12.01am Thursday March 31, 2022.

The following modified measures will take effect from March 31:

• Masks required indoors for adults and children in Year 3 and above, other than the home;
• Proof of vaccination to continue applying to higher-risk venues.
• Contact registration requirements to only be required for higher-risk venues that require proof of vaccination, removing the need for contact registration at retail outlets and other lower-risk sites where only casual interaction is likely to occur.
• Indoor home gatherings limited to a total of 30 people, including household members;
• Private outdoor gatherings limited to a total of 200 people, subject to the two square metre rule if at a private residence.
• Two square metre rule for hospitality venues, nightclubs, convention centres or function centres, with a cap of 500 patrons (for two weeks only).
• Two square metre rule for fitness venues, entertainment venues, galleries and museums, places of worship, hairdressers and beauty services.
• 75 per cent capacity for seated entertainment venues (forward facing), such as theatres and cinemas.
• 75 per cent capacity for major stadia, such as Optus Stadium, RAC Arena, HBF Stadium (main area) and HBF Park.
• Two square metre rule for Perth Crown Complex including the gaming floor; and
• COVID Event Checklists required for events with more than 500 patrons and less than 1,000 patrons and COVID Event Plans required for large events with 1,000 patrons and above. The two square metre rule applies.

The limit of two visitors will remain per resident per day to residential aged care and disability care facilities. There will also be no change to essential visitors allowed to hospitals (e.g. for compassionate reasons such as end of life, accompanying a child or patient with complex needs, birthing partner, carer of a person with a disability, chronic illness and frailty).

Critical worker, school and childcare settings also remain unchanged.

Proof of vaccination will remain in place for a range of higher-risk venues

For more information visit wa.gov.au.

Patrons will also be required to check-in using the SafeWA or ServiceWA app or a hardcopy contact register at these venues.

Stay up to date with the latest Perth COVID updates and Perth news on SoPerth.com.au.