WA has recorded one new coronavirus infection overnight. The state's active cases have fallen to 47. WA has received a further $4 million worth of PPE.
Mark McGowan says nine people have recovered from the virus overnight. Photo: Gabriel Oliveira
- Western Australia has recorded one new coronavirus infection overnight, bringing the state’s total to 550. The new case is an 80-year-old woman, whose partner travelled on board the Costa Victoria cruise ship.
- Premier Mark McGowan said there are currently 16 COVID-19 cases in Perth metropolitan hospitals, four of whom are in intensive care.
- Mr McGowan said a further nine people have recovered from the virus, reducing the state’s active cases to 47 and increasing recoveries to 495.
- Only 28 of the 47 active cases are Western Australians. Two cases are from interstate and 17 are from the Artania cruise ship.
- 35,155 people have tested negative to COVID-19 and of these, 6,230 were in regional WA.
- The latest figures come as WA became one of the first states to ease its coronavirus-related restrictions, with the two-person gathering limit increasing to 10 yesterday. The 1.5 metre social distancing rule remains in place. Weddings and funerals can now both have up to 10 people present.
- Western Australians can leave home for non-contact recreational activities including private picnics, fishing, boating, hiking and camping.
- Open houses and display villages are also now permitted as long as records are kept of everyone who enters a home, as announced by Mr McGowan on Sunday.
- WA’s public schools will open for Term 2 tomorrow. Parents will not be allowed on school grounds and are required to drop children off at the school gate. Education Minister Sue Ellery said more than 60 per cent of students were expected to attend school. The government is spending $43 million on increasing cleaning at schools throughout the day.
- Elective surgeries have resumed in WA hospitals. Mr McGowan said the state government was now scheduling all Category 1 surgeries that were deferred due to COVID-19 and around a quarter of the state’s deferred Category 2 surgeries.
- “We’ve decided to go to a quarter of the normal amount as a staged approach, rather than starting with the full measure of elective surgeries,” Mr McGowan said. “That’s just to ensure we get our health system back up but also ensure we preserve personal protective equipment (PPE) and just monitor as it goes along.”
- The state has received a further $4 million worth of PPE. It includes 500,000 surgical face masks, 130,000 anti-virus face shields and 120,000 isolation gowns.
- Mr McGowan said a flight from Johannesburg carrying 257 passengers will arrive at Perth Airport. The premier said the passengers will receive a health assessment upon arrival and will be placed in 14-day isolation unless given a police exemption.
- Australian zoos and aquariums will receive $94.6 million in federal government funding under a new support package, announced today. The funding will assist zoos and aquariums with fixed operational costs associated with caring for animals, while also helping them to remain viable and ready to welcome visitors when restrictions are eased.
