The State Government has imposed a minimum four-day “circuit-breaker” lockdown following a third community case of COVID-19.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on June 29, 2021.
Perth and Peel enter ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown
The following measures are in place from 12.01am Tuesday June 29 until at least Saturday June 4 at 12.01am:
- Masks are mandatory, except while at home and during vigorous outdoor exercise. Other exemptions apply, including for people with certain health conditions, disabilities and primary school-aged children and younger.
- Stay at home, except for the following reasons:
- For work if you are an essential worker or essential service provider. The government has outlined a definition of essential work here.
- For purchasing essential goods including food, groceries, medical or necessary supplies within 5 kilometres of home or at the closest practicable location;
- For one hour of exercise per day within 5km of home with up to one other adult from your household or any number of children from your household;
- For medical or healthcare purposes, including looking after the vulnerable or to be vaccinated.
- A regional boundary will be in place around Perth and Peel. Travel to other regions is restricted to exempt reasons only. Anyone who has been in Perth or Peel since June 27 must continue to wear a mask.
- School and childcare centres remain open, with masks required except for primary school children or while teaching.
- Private gatherings are not permitted; visitors are only allowed in homes for essential services, critical maintenance, caregiving or compassionate reasons.
- Hospitality venues are restricted to takeaway only.
- Non-essential retail is restricted to click-and-collect or delivery only.
- The following must close:
- Beauty salons, hairdressers etc.;
- Fitness and recreational venues;
- Casinos;
- Nightclubs;
- Entertainment venues;
- Playgrounds
- Skate parks;
- Outdoor recreational facilities;
- Higher education; and
- Religious gatherings or and/or places or worship, cultural institutions.
- Visits to aged/disability care centres are prohibited, except for essential care, compassionate reasons, end of life and advocacy.
- Visits to hospitals are prohibited, except for compassionate reasons (e.g. end of life, accompanying a child, supporting partner giving birth). Priority 2 and 3 elective surgeries will be postponed.
- Community sport is cancelled.
- Public events are not permitted.
- Up to five people are allowed at weddings, for compassionate reasons only.
- Ten people are permitted at funerals.
CCIWA CEO Chris Rodwell acknowledged the need for a snap lockdown to protect people’s health and to avoid a more protracted lockdown.
“At the same time, it is important to recognise that this lockdown will inflict significant harm on many Western Australian small businesses,” he said.
“These businesses bear the financial costs of lockdowns on behalf of society, and it is critical they are compensated quickly and appropriately.
“To ensure these restrictions on small business owners can end as soon as possible, it is vital that the entire WA community come together and follow the health authorities’ advice at all times.”
He also encouraged everyone in Perth and Peel to support businesses in their local communities.
Perth and Peel move to phase one restrictions
The State Government has moved Perth and Peel region to phase one COVID-19 restrictions amid confirmation of new community cases of the virus.
WA Premier Mark McGowan on Sunday (June 27) announced the following restrictions for a minimum of three days:
- Mandatory masks indoors, on public transport, and outdoors where physical distancing is not possible. Exemptions apply to primary school students and others in exempt categories;
- Hospitality, entertainment venues (including casino and nightclubs), retail, beauty/hairdressers, recreation centres (including gyms, pilates, yoga, dance and swimming pools) and places of worship can remain open but must comply with the 2 square-metre rule, with a maximum of 150 patrons;
- Public events that cannot be restricted to 150 people will be cancelled or played without spectators;
- A 30-person limit in all homes for private gatherings;
- Community sport is permitted;
- Weddings and funerals can proceed but will be limited to a maximum of 150 attendees;
- Maximum of four personal visitors per patient per day at hospitals, aged and disability care; and
- Anyone who enters a regional area from the Perth-Peel region is required to wear a mask as per requirements in Perth-Peel, and travel should be minimised. Travel to remote Aboriginal communities is restricted.
The restrictions follow a confirmed community case of COVID-19 from a woman returning from NSW.
On Monday (June 28) a second case linked to the woman was confirmed.
Information about exposure sites can be found here.
WA tightens border measures
WA has declared the Northern Territory, Queensland, ACT and Victoria as “low-risk” jurisdictions, after an increase in infections in those states.
This means all arrivals from those jurisdictions must self-quarantine for 14 days and be tested for COVID-19 on arrival (within 48 hours) and on day 11.
The current hard border with NSW remains, with only travellers who have been granted an exemption able to enter WA.
South Australia and Tasmania remain “very low risk” states.
For a list of jurisdictions and their COVID-19 risk levels, visit the State Government’s resource here.
CCIWA’s COVID-19 site contains up-to-date information for workplaces navigating COVID-19 restrictions.
Our Employee Relations Advice Centre is also able to respond to your questions on (08) 9365 7660, or via [email protected].
