Western Australia will remove its hard border at 12.01am Thursday March 3, Premier Mark McGowan announced in a press conference this afternoon.
The revised date comes after the original February 5 date was postponed amid the country’s Omicron surge.
“Proceeding on February 5 would have been a completely unforced error,” McGowan said. “Instead we created a safe pathway.”
From March 3, interstate arrivals will be required to complete a GTG pass prior to entry, be triple-dose vaccinated if eligible and take a rapid antigen test within 12 hours of arrival (and report any positive result).
International arrivals will be required to complete a GTG pass prior to entry, be fully vaccinated and take a rapid antigen test within 12 hours of arrival (and report any positive result). Unvaccinated returning Australians will be required to complete seven days of hotel quarantine.
“This is a safe step forward,” McGowan said.
“The virus is already here and we cannot stop its spread,” he conceded.
The government will, though, introduce a number of level one restrictions in order to manage the spread. From 6am Monday February 21, in the Perth, Peel, South West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt and Pilbara regions, the two-square-metre rule will return in bars, cafes, restaurants and cultural venues, plus fitness centres, hairdressers and places of worship. Theatre and cinemas can have 75 per cent capacity, as can major stadiums. Nightclubs will be capped at 500 patrons, with the two-square-metre rule. And indoor mask requirements will be statewide.
“These measures allow major events, live venues and hospitality venues to keep operating safely,” McGowan said.
Home gatherings will be limited to 30 people. Private outdoor events not at home will be capped at 200 people. Standing consumption and dancing is still allowed.
The Premier said level two measures may be enacted further down the road if necessary, including the four-square-metre rule and home gatherings capped at 10 people.
WA recorded 202 Covid cases in the past 24 hours, 194 of which are locally transmitted. There are currently 724 active cases in the state, and zero Covid cases in hospital.
The state's third-dose vaccination rate is currently at 55 per cent, and expected to climb to 70 per cent by March 3.
More to come.
