Most of Western Australia’s remaining close contact and gathering rules will end at midnight, after the premier announced a suite of changes to COVID management.
Most of Western Australia’s remaining close contact and gathering rules will end at midnight, after the premier announced a suite of changes to COVID management.
The state’s close contact definition now resembles the national cabinet model, which means the need for work colleagues to self-quarantine for seven days is over.
School contact tracing and isolation requirements will also be a thing of the past in term two, according to Premier Mark McGowan.
“In effect, when it comes to schools, if you’re sick stay at home,” Mr McGowan said.
“WA’s soft landing is on course, with our high vaccination rate resulting in actual hospitalisations and ICU admissions well below what was projected.”
Ahead of the Easter weekend, the government has also lifted the 500-person capacity limit for hospitality venues, and there are no more restrictions on the numbers of people who can gather in homes or at private functions.
The requirement to do a rapid antigen test on arrival into WA will also end.
But the mask mandate, partly blamed for Perth’s widespread work-from-home practice, and the G2G entry requirement will remain. People must also comply with the proof of vaccination law.
However, there will be no further need to check-in anywhere using the Safe WA QR code.
WA hit 7426 new cases today.
There are only four people in intensive care out of the 215 in hospital.
“It's a remarkable thing that together we avoided mass loss of life while minimising the impact of the virus and public health measures on the community and the economy,” Mr McGowan said.
“We think this is the right time and that's the advice we've received from the Chief Health Officer.”
Mr McGowan wouldn’t put a time limit on mask wearing because he believes they still prevent higher levels of spread.
The remaining close contact rule relates only to those under the same roof as a person with the virus, or an intimate partner.
Rules around 15-minute maskless conversations or spending two hours in the same room as a work colleague with COVID are scrapped.
Anyone currently in isolation under those previous regulations can leave quarantine from midnight tonight.
“I think it would be fair to say Western Australia has had the best outcomes in the world,” the premier said.
“But the other restrictions, the mask wearing and the like, we'll consider those over coming weeks as to what can be done.”
