West Australians will exit a five-day lockdown at 6pm on Friday, the state’s Premier Mark McGowan has announced.
The state posted a fifth consecutive day of no new community COVID-19 cases, meaning the lockdown will end for metropolitan Perth, Peel and the South West.
The three regions were sent into a five-day lockdown on Sunday following the discovery of a case in a hotel quarantine worker. The case was later confirmed to be of the more contagious UK variant of the virus.
“I can confirm we will exit lockdown at 6pm tonight,” Mr McGowan told reporters on Friday.
“The only reason that could change was if local cases were recorded this afternoon. But I’m confident in our transition plan out of lockdown is the right approach.”
Some restrictions will remain in place until at least 14 February, including mandatory face masks and capacity limits in venues.
Indoor and outdoor gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 20 people.
All businesses will be reopened except for casinos and nightclubs which are to remain closed.
Businesses will have to abide by the four-square meter rule and it will be mandatory for them to record the details of guests attending.
Weddings and funerals and community sporting events are limited to 150 people.
Schools are also set to reopen in the locked-down areas as is higher education.
State borders
South Australia has removed hard border restrictions for travellers from Greater Perth, but will keep a testing regime in place.
Premier Steven Marshall says people from the previously designated hotspots in Western Australia – Perth, the Peel region, and the South West – will still be required to have COVID-19 tests on days, one, five and 12.
They must isolate until they receive a negative result from the first test.
Anyone from Western Australia currently in quarantine in South Australia will be allowed to leave provided they have not visited the Four Points Hotel in Perth.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
