Covid-19 Resources and Updates
Premier Mark McGowan has announced Stage 3 of Western Australia's COVID-19 restrictions. This will come into effect from June 6. It includes the following:
- Non-work indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed, a five-fold increase from the current 20-person limit.
- Up to 300 people will be allowed in some settings, including for indoor or outdoor venues with multiple, divided spaces, with up to 100 people in each space.
- All food businesses and licensed premises can now operate with seated service only, and alcohol may now be served without a meal at licensed premises.
- All beauty therapy and personal care services can reopen, including saunas and wellness centres.
- Galleries, museums, theatres, auditoriums, cinemas and concert venues can reopen – with the 100/300 rule followed.
- Perth Zoo will open, as can wildlife parks, amusement parks, arcades and indoor play centres.
- Playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gym equipment can reopen.
- Gyms, health clubs, indoor sports centres will be able to offer the normal range of activities, including use of all gym equipment. However, Gyms will need to be staffed at all times and undertake regular cleaning.
- Full contact sport and training will now be permitted in Western Australia. This will mean from next weekend, people of all ages will be able to start competitive contact sports.
- Parents and guardians will be able to enter school grounds to drop off or pick up their children as part of Phase 3.
- TABs are permitted to reopen.
More information is available here.
WA Premier Mark McGowan announced on Monday, May 25 that Kimberley border restrictions would be relaxed on Friday, June 5. This will allow travel to and from the Kimberley region, including Broome. However, the restriction of travel to remote Indigenous communities will remain. For more information, click here.
WA Premier Mark McGowan unveiled a four-phase plan to remove COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday, May 10. Phase one is currently underway and phase two will be activated on Monday, May 18.
The four-phase roadmap will help get Western Australians back to work safely and begin the process of restarting the State’s economy. It has been developed in conjunction with the National Cabinet principles and is based on the best health advice for WA.
In phase 2, Kimberley internal local government boundaries will be removed, but the external Kimberley border will remain.
Regional boundaries across WA reduce from 13 to 4.
Indoor and outdoor meetings to increase from 10 to 20.
People encouraged to return to work.
Cafes, pubs and restaurants allowed to dine-in for up to 20 patrons, but must include the 4sqm social distancing rules.
Libraries and public swimming pools allowed to open.
Non-contact sport allowed up to 20 people.
Beauty businesses allowed to open for retail, but not services.
Weddings/funerals - increase to 20 people. Can be 30 people if held outdoors.
An official COVID-19 safety plan will need to be completed before facilities can reopen.
The Premier will be writing to local governments to ask them to provide flexibility in relation to alfresco dining from a planning perspective.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that has not been previously identified in humans.
The virus causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever and in more severe cases, pneumonia. You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your face.
The first case reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) was on 31 December 2019. It has since spread across the world, with WHO declaring the disease a pandemic on 11 March 2020.
It is very important that the community access resources from trusted sources only. Below is a list of trusted resources specifically related to Coronavirus (COVID-19):
WA State Government Hotline 13 COVID (13 26 843)
Coronavirus Health Information Line 1800 020 080
Health Direct 1800 022 222
COVID Test Result Hotline 1800 313 223
Smart Traveller website www.smarttraveller.gov.au
WA Government Department Health website www.healthywa.wa.gov.au
Australian Government Department Health website www.health.gov.au
Corona Virus Resources for Remote Communities.
If you require a translating or interpreting services please call 131 450.
There are a number of Coronavirus resources available for the indigenous and remote communities. Here are a few reliable sources:
- The Aboriginal Health Council of WA
- The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (NACCHO)
- Department of Communities
- WA Department of Health
Free services to assist communities during Covid-19
Over 169 payphones across remote communities in Western Australia are available to use free of charge. This will help you stay connected to friends, family and health care services.
WA's Response
Western Australia is working closely with the Commonwealth, State and Territory jurisdictional governments to respond to the outbreak of a novel Coronavirus that has recently been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
Click here to access the Western Australian Government Pandemic Plan
Prohibition on Travel Between Local Government Districts in the Kimberley Directions.
Remote Aboriginal Communities Directions
