With Western Australia’s soft landing through the Omicron wave on course, public health and social measures (PHSM) will be eased from 12.01am Thursday March 31, 2022.
The decision to ease PHSMs is based on the latest health advice and delivers on the State Government’s promise to review the measures after four weeks.
The modest Level 2 measures were introduced on March 3, the same day as the full border reopening.
The following modified Level 1 measures will take effect from March 31:
- masks required indoors for adults and children in Year 3 and above, other than the home;
- proof of vaccination to continue applying to higher-risk venues;
- contact registration requirements to only be required for higher-risk venues that require proof of vaccination, removing the need for contact registration at retail outlets and other lower-risk sites where only casual interaction is likely to occur;
- indoor home gatherings limited to a total of 30 people, including household members;
- private outdoor gatherings limited to a total of 200 people, subject to the two square metre rule if at a private residence;
- two square metre rule for hospitality venues, nightclubs, convention centres or function centres, with a cap of 500 patrons (for two weeks only);
- two square metre rule for fitness venues, entertainment venues, galleries and museums, places of worship, hairdressers and beauty services;
- 75 per cent capacity for seated entertainment venues (forward facing), such as theatres and cinemas;
- 75 per cent capacity for major stadia, such as Optus Stadium, RAC Arena, HBF Stadium (main area) and HBF Park;
- two square metre rule for Perth Crown Complex including the gaming floor; and
- COVID Event Checklists required for events with more than 500 patrons and less than 1,000 patrons and COVID Event Plans required for large events with 1,000 patrons and above. The two square metre rule applies.
The limit of two visitors will remain per resident per day to residential aged care and disability care facilities. There will also be no change to essential visitors allowed to hospitals (e.g. for compassionate reasons such as end of life, accompanying a child or patient with complex needs, birthing partner, carer of a person with a disability, chronic illness and frailty).
Critical worker, school and childcare settings also remain unchanged.
Proof of vaccination will remain in place for a range of higher-risk venues, with a list of which venues available at www.wa.gov.au. Patrons will also be required to check-in using the SafeWA or ServiceWA app or a hardcopy contact register at these venues.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“Western Australia’s soft landing through the Omicron wave is on track – with COVID-19 hospitalisations and ICU admissions lower than expected thanks to our world-leading vaccination rate.
“Given this, we can now ease most Level 2 measures back to modified Level 1 measures after only four weeks – just as we had planned.
“WA has been fortunate enough to mitigate the need to move towards more severe and sustained long-term restrictions seen elsewhere in the country – like working from home mandates and implementing a broader four square metre rule, which would have been far worse for WA jobs and businesses.
“However, there is no doubt that some businesses have done it tough while Level 2 measures have been in place.
“My Government is supporting those businesses most impacted through our recent support packages worth more than $420 million, with more than $1.7 billion committed to businesses since the beginning of the pandemic.
“I thank all Western Australians for doing the right thing. We have only got to this position by doing what is required, when required, and now we can all benefit.
“As we continue through the Omicron wave, we will continue to review and adapt measures as necessary.”
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“Since the start of the pandemic, the McGowan Government has implemented sensible health measures that have kept Western Australians safe.
“These new Level 1 measures strike the right balance between reducing the spread of Omicron and minimising the impact on businesses.
“Importantly, we are retaining stronger PHSMs for higher-risk settings, including hospitals and residential aged and disability care, to ensure our most vulnerable citizens are appropriately protected.
“Thank you to all those who continue to get tested and vaccinated, including a third dose when eligible. You are doing your bit to protect those in the community who might become more seriously unwell from COVID-19.
“Our very high vaccination rates have kept hospitalisations and ICU admissions down and enabled us to keep our restrictions modest and short-term.”
