Western Australia’s hard border will come down at 12.01am on Thursday March 3, when triple-dose vaccinated arrivals from interstate will be allowed to enter WA without quarantining for the first time in more than two years. International travellers will also be allowed entry so long as they
In preparation for the re-opening, the Western Australian government has introduced Level 1 restrictions, including 1 in 2 sqm, density limits for venues.
Mr McGowan said, “Based on the latest health advice, we’ve had to make the difficult decision to introduce these measures in order to try to minimise the overall impact of Omicron and keep WA safe.”
He has not ruled out increasing restrictions to Level 2 if needed to reduce increasing transmission of COVID-19 and hospitalisations.
“These measures may be scaled up or down based on updated health advice or rates of hospitalisation,” he said.
Level 2 would include the four square metre rule indoors and two square metre outdoors for hospitality venues but the AHA says that it is “fiercely resistant” to the implementation of this option and that it wants the 1 in 2 sqm rule in place for as short a time as possible.
“WA is better prepared than any other state for the arrival and spread of Omicron and we urge the Government to ensure the 1 in 2sqm capacity restrictions apply for only a very limited period,” said AHA WA CEO, Bradley Woods.
“Capacity restrictions directly impact on revenue and limit the ability for venues to trade through the pandemic, making any further restrictions beyond 1 in 2sqm limits unfeasible. If we see restrictions imposed such as South Australia’s hospitality-destroying density limits of 1 in 4sqm, there will be widespread business closures and mass job losses.”
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson suggested that modelling shows the potential for the state to reach peak of COVID infections of 10,000 cases a day by the end of March.
“I know this news will be confronting for many, as our successful management of the virus kept COVID out of our state for so long,” Ms Sanderson said.
As the state faces an uncertain period as it adapts to daily life with COVID, Premier McGowan has suggested compensation for affected venues will be offered.
Mr Woods said, “Without adequate compensation to navigate the period ahead, many of WA’s hospitality venues will be left with no choice other than to shed staff, or worse.”
Modelling from WA Health suggests that the virus will peak at the end of March with 10,000 cases per day.
“I know this news will be confronting for many, as our successful management of the virus kept COVID out of our state for so long,” said Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.
So as much as West Australians are excited at the re-opening of the border, and ready for tourism, migration and hospitality venues to once again flourish, there is also great uncertainty and trepidation for the citizens of this state who are significantly behind the rest of Australia when it comes to living with COVID.
