(Monday, 22 June 2020) Phase 4 of the WA roadmap to relax COVID-restrictions further starts Saturday, June 27 (effective from 11.59pm Friday, June 26). Decisions based on WA health advice and only possible due to consistently low case numbers and WA's hard border with the rest of the country. Gathering limits will now only be determined by WA's reduced 2sqm rule. The 2sqm rule will only include staff at venues that hold more than 500 patrons. Roadmap updated to include Phases 5 and 6. Phases 4 and 5 are three weeks apart, and contingent on latest health advice.
Roadmap and more information available at www.wa.gov.au
Western Australia's COVID-19 restrictions will be relaxed even further, as WA's roadmap is updated to complete the removal of all restrictions.
Due to the world-leading response to COVID in WA, Phase 4 will start on Saturday, June 27 (11.59pm Friday, June 26) and will result in:
- All existing gathering limits and the 100/300 rule removed;
- Gathering limits now only determined by WA's reduced 2sqm rule;
- The 2sqm rule will include staff only at venues that hold more than 500 patrons;
- Removal of seated service requirements at food businesses and licensed premises;
- No requirement to maintain patron register at food businesses and licensed premises;
- Alcohol can be served as part of unseated service arrangements;
- All events permitted except for large scale, multi-stage music festivals;
- Unseated performances permitted at venues such as concert halls, live music venues, bars, pubs and nightclubs;
- The casino gaming floor reopening under agreed temporary restrictions and
- Gyms operating unstaffed, but regular cleaning must be maintained;
For WA's major sport and entertainment venues, a 50 per cent capacity rule will apply. Therefore, under Phase 4 the temporary capacity of Optus Stadium will be 30,633 for sport events (35,000 for concerts), HBF Park can hold 10,150 (16,500 for concerts) and RAC Arena can hold 7,150 (8,250 for concerts).
Western Australians must continue to keep up physical distancing where possible and good personal hygiene to better protect themselves and the general health of our community. WA businesses will be expected to ensure their COVID Safety Plans are updated and continue to be implemented.
COVID Safety plans help mitigate the risk of COVID-19, are in line with health advice and provide extra confidence to patrons and staff entering the business premises.
Depending on infection rates locally, Phase 5 is planned to be introduced on Saturday, July 18 (effective from 11.59pm Friday, July 17) and will result in the removal of the 2sqm rule. It is also expected to see the removal of all gathering restrictions, other COVID-related rules introduced by the State Government and the 50 per cent capacity limit for major venues.
Phase 6 was going to include the removal of WA's hard border with the rest of the country and travel restrictions currently in place for remote Aboriginal communities. A tentative date for the removal of WA's hard border was planned to be included as part of Phase 6, however this was put on hold due to the rapidly evolving situation in Victoria.
When an indicative date is set in the future, it will be contingent on locally acquired infection rates in the Eastern States. The WA hard border will only be removed when the WA Chief Health Officer is confident the spread of infection is controlled in the Eastern States.
Premier Mark McGowan stated: "Western Australia is ready take another giant step out of COVID-19 restrictions. Our phased approach has allowed us to get more Western Australians back to work and into more social and recreational activities, as together we continue to kick-start WA's economy.
"It's because of the incredible effort of all Western Australians that we've been able to reach each phase and continue to lead the states in relaxing restrictions.
"I wish we could remove them all at once, but we need to be responsible and follow the health advice - it has allowed us to progress this far already. I will not risk the health of Western Australians and the potential damage to our economy, which is rebuilding now after the closures at the height of the pandemic. WA is still the only State without the problematic four square metre rule, and now we go even further by removing most of our remaining restrictions in Phase 4.
"We can only do this thanks to WA's success in minimising the spread of COVID-19, and our hard border with the Eastern States. We all need to be aware that the virus has not been eradicated, so we all have a personal responsibility to keep the community safe. To better protect each other in the community we need to continue to keep our physical distance, practice good personal hygiene and stay home if we're unwell."
Health Minister Roger Cook added, "It's heartening to be able to resume more and more activities, but we need to do so in a COVID safe manner. We can do so because of our strong health-managed response be it in local epidemiology, contact tracing, quarantine arrangements, strengthened testing and planning and preparation including our increased PPE stocks.
"We can't take any risks that would undo all the work which has put WA at the forefront when it comes to bouncing back from COVID-19. It has allowed for our community to return to work and provided more opportunities to social and recreationally interact. Our elective surgery only returned to its full capacity last week after a staged resumption. More activities will be able to return close to its business as usual capacity in good time and in a staged and carefully monitored fashion.
"Western Australians have been patient, diligent and continued to heed health advice. Doing so has protected us and separates us from the communities on the east coast, which sadly continues to fluctuate with local transmission numbers."
ORDER HERE: fcowanmedia@gmail.com : Amazon: Unicorn Eyes: The Orange-Sofa