Phase 2 of WA’s COVID-19 restrictions plan will come into effect May 18th.
After the federal announcement from PM Scott Morrison on Friday about Australia’s Coronavirus Roadmap, WA Premier Mark McGowan has provided an update on WA’s COVID-19 restrictions announcement.
There is now a light at the end of the long dark COVID-19 tunnel. Mr McGowan has provided some welcome news to the WA community announcing the local governments roadmap to easing COVID-19 restrictions within the state.
“We have been able to get to this point thanks to the efforts of all Western Australians, who have gone above and beyond to do the right thing to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Mark McGowan
WA COVID-19 Roadmap & Phase 2
Phase 2 Community Update
The first significant ease in COVID-19 restrictions will come into play from Monday, May 18 (or 11.59pm on Sunday, May 17), giving businesses and families time to plan accordingly, and includes:
- Indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings lifted to 20 people;
- People are encouraged to return to work, unless they are unwell or vulnerable;
- Cafés and restaurants can reopen with meal service (including within pubs, bars, clubs, hotels and casino), limited to 20 patrons and the four square metre rule applied;
- Weddings and funerals, limited to up to 20 attendees (30 for outdoor);
- Places of worship, community facilities and libraries to re-open, limited to 20 patrons;
- Community sports (non-contact) limited to 20 people;
- Outdoor or indoor fitness classes (minimal shared equipment) limited to 20 participants;
- Public swimming pools can open under strict rules (one indoor pool and one outdoor pool), limited to 20 patrons per pool.
If businesses or premises want to reopen they will be required to complete an official COVID Safety Plan. More details on this will be released shortly, in consultation with industry.
Phase 2 Travel Update
As part of Phase 2, regional travel restrictions will also change with new regional boundaries to be established from 13 down to 4 – allowing for further travel intra-state.
The new regional boundaries will allow:
- Travel between the South-West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt, Perth and Peel regions
- Travel between the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions (excluding Biosecurity zone)
- Travel within the Goldfields-Esperance region (excluding the Biosecurity zone)
- Travel permitted within the Kimberley local government areas (the Commonwealth’s Biosecurity zone remains in place).
This means the people of Perth will be allowed to travel into the South-West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt and Peel regions.
To further support the ease on restrictions Mr McGowan stated “This phased approach allows us to carefully monitor COVID-19 in WA, and ease restrictions in a way that supports our economy, with the smallest risk to the community’s health.”
Phase 3 Update
There is no official start date on Phase 3 as this will be will be finalised and based on the advice from the Chief Health Officer – taking into account the infection rates across WA.
It is expected Phase 3 will be implemented approximately 4 weeks from the commencement of Phase 2.
Phase 3 will include:
- Further increases in the number of people allowed at indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings, including patrons at cafés and restaurants, weddings and funerals;
- Possible further relaxation of regional travel restrictions;
- Restrictions further relaxed for gyms, health clubs and indoor sport centres;
- Contact community sport (indoor and outdoor) permitted, with gathering limits;
- Beauty therapy and personal care services permitted;
- Auction houses and real estate auctions (not just online as it is currently); and
- Public playgrounds, outdoor gym equipment, skate parks, zoos, cinemas, galleries, museums and concert venues permitted to open, with gathering limits.
Off the back of these announcements WA has again recorded no new cases overnight adding further good news to today’s announcement.
For further information visit wa.gov.au
Further coronavirus coverage on SoPerth.com.au:
- Australia Coronavirus Roadmap: Restaurants and cafes will re-open in the first stage of lifting restrictions
- Perth Join Race For A Cure
- Life Won’t Return To Normal Until We Have A Cure
Watch: COVID-19 restrictions announcement from WA Premier Mark McGowan
Feature image: AAP – Richard Wainwright
