Restrictions to lift at midnight

Western Australia has not recorded any new locally acquired cases of COVID today, giving the green light for the majority of the interim restrictions to lift for those in Perth and Peel from midnight tonight.

During a press conference this morning, Premier Mark McGowan said that the state's only new case of COVID-19 was recorded in hotel quarantine, a man in his 30s who had recently returned from India.

While the result was pleasing, Mr McGowan urged people to continue to get tested over the next week while the state waits for the incubation period of the virus to end.

Last night, the state government outlined its plan for the easing of restrictions following a meeting of the State Disaster Council late yesterday.

The chief health officer advised that while the vast majority of the interim restriction could be lifted, a number would need to remain in place until May 8.

From midnight tonight, people will be required to wear masks indoors, including in workplaces, on public transport and in sporting venues, and there will be a 30-person limit on gatherings at homes.

Seated hospitality venues, including restaurants and cafés, will be able to open at 75 per cent capacity, while gyms and beauty salons can reopen with the two square metre rule in place.

Public venues can open with the two square metre rule in place, and entertainment venues with fixed seating will be able to operate at 100 per cent capacity.

About 2 million Western Australians were forced into a three-day lockdown after a Melbourne man contracted the virus during his final days of hotel quarantine before visiting locations across the Perth metropolitan area between April 17 and April 21.

The lockdown was enforced after two other people became infected, the state’s first cases of community transmission in more than a year.