The COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Managing COVID-19 [183], On 27 November, Victoria recorded 28 consecutive days without recording any new COVID-19 infections or deaths; 28 days is considered to be the benchmark for eliminating COVID-19 from the community. [63], From 31 January, proof of vaccination was required for entry to hospitals, aged care facilities, hospitality and indoor entertainment venues across the state. A$750million was allocated for capital works and public asset maintenance. The Perth and Peel restrictions have ended as planned from 12.01am, Sunday, 14 February. [131], On 18 July, it was announced that a sitting of Federal Parliament, scheduled for the first 2 weeks of August, had been cancelled. [111], On 20 June, the Victorian Government announced the re-tightening of restrictions on household gatherings following a spike in community transmitted cases over the previous week, reported to be mainly caused by family-to-family transmission in large household gatherings. [61], The cruise ship Artania docked at Fremantle on 27 March. [59], From 16 January masks were again required for indoor public areas in the Perth and Peel regions, after five new cases of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Saturday 7th Global cases hit 100,000 At the time, just 3,400 people had died from the virus. Perth and Peel will enter a 3-day lockdown from 12.01am Saturday 24 April 2021, based on health advice. South Australia WA has had at least six people breach the states quarantine measures, although none were infected with coronavirus at the time. In a televised address to the nation, the PM said that even those nations with the best medical facilities could not contain the virus and that social distancing is the only option to mitigate it. There were concerns that the upgrade would temporarily halve the Emergency Department (ED) waiting room capacity, preventing isolation of ED patients from patients with the virus. - Statewide, March 30 to May 12, 2020, 43 days * Lockdown two - Ten Melbourne postcodes, July 1 to July 8, 2020, seven days (not counted in the overall citywide figure) - Melbourne, July 8 to . By the time WA emerged from its toughest period of restrictions, which lasted between March 29 and April 28, it had unknowingly eliminated community transmission of the virus after previously recording 16 cases of unknown transmission. The Department of Health has reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, bringing the State's total to 278. . How Irish Eurovision fans can get tickets for song contest in Liverpool as release date is confirmed. Parliament was rescheduled to return on 24 August. [40] New South Wales Liberal senator, Andrew Bragg, was the third Australian politician to test positive. [17], On 4 March, a second death was reported, a 95-year-old woman dying at a Sydney aged-care facility. The Prime Minister tells people they must stay at home, and should only leave for essential reasons such as buying food and exercising once per day. This was also the first time since 21 February where there were no cases of COVID-19 in Victorian hospitals. Health officials sought to notify passengers on the doctor's flights. [30], Victoria confirmed nine new cases, one of which was the first case of human-to-human transmission in the state. The lockdown began on 16 March 2020, when Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that all unnecessary social contact should cease. But as the outbreak has spread around the world, it has become more . The changes were introduced in the first two weeks of the pandemic, when more than 75 per cent of WAs 278 cases were directly linked to overseas travel or cruise ships, and there was little evidence of transmission chains in the community. But just eight hours after the Monday morning press conference, Perth and Peel was placed in a four-day lockdown because of a third case, a man in his 30s who was a casual contact of Case 1022. By 2April, 34passengers and 5 crew members had tested positive for the virus in New South Wales alone. One result was that AFL spectators were not allowed at the Western AFL Derby on May 2 at Optus Stadium. People in the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region will enter a minimum four-day lockdown from 12.01am Tuesday, June 29 to limit any potential spread of COVID-19. [158] As a trial, some seasonal workers were allowed in, such as 160 workers from Vanuatu allowed into the Northern Territory in early September to pick mangoes. [12], On 5 April, all state borders were closed, a strengthening of the previous border rules, and all arrivals were quarantined in city hotels for 14 days. And there is still the danger of another lockdown as 123 days remain before all adults are due a first dose. [197], On 20 December, the Northern Territory re-imposed controls on cross border movements of people who were from, or visited Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Illawarra and the Central Coast, including quarantine requirements. Here's what that means", "Emergency Management Amendment (Temporary COVID-19 Provisions) Bill 2022", "Coronavirus outbreak sees WA events cancelled as COVID-19 pandemic shuts down festivals", "FAIRBRIDGE FESTIVAL First reveal of 2021 return", "Perth Skyworks to go ahead next Australia Day despite coronavirus disruption risks", "Skyworks 2021 axed by City of Perth amid coronavirus concerns", "Perth's Australia Day Skyworks cancelled due to COVID-19 fears", "Perth Skyworks 2021 Now Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Concerns", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=COVID-19_pandemic_in_Western_Australia&oldid=1127801440. The date had been based on the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, but it is feared the Omicron variant could "cripple" the state. The president of the Australian Medical Association WA, Mark Duncan-Smith, believed that the state's hospital system was not ready for the borders to be reopened. [137], By 1 August, Australia's national death toll exceeded 200. [127], On 7 July, after recording 191 new cases, Premier Andrews announced that metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire would re-enter lockdown for a minimum of six weeks from 12 a.m. on 9 July. Domino's Pizza in Fairfield has been shut for two weeks, and mattress manufacturer The Comfort Group in Deer Park was closed from Friday 15 May to at least Wednesday 20 May. [45] On the same day, the cruise ship Ruby Princess discharged 2,700 passengers in Sydney. Perth: 2021-01-31: 2021-02-05: 5 2021-04-23: 2021-04-26: 3 2021-06-28: 2021-07-02: 4 61 Metropolitan area . The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).The first confirmed case in Australia was identified on 25 January 2020, in Victoria, when a man who had returned from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, tested positive for the virus. [66] The legislation was designed to allow WA to exit the state of emergency, which the state has been under since 15 March 2020a total of 922 days as of 23 September. Further to an announcement by Premier Mark McGowan this afternoon (Friday 23 April 2021) Perth and Peel will go into lockdown for three days, from midnight tonight until midnight on Monday 26 April 2021. This followed some cases of coronavirus in Victoria being linked by DNA sequencing to a breach in hotel quarantine infection control. [192] Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly had designated the region a COVID-19 hotspot in line with the National Cabinet's guidelines, which designates a metropolitan area a potential hotspot if it registers 30 or more community transmissions within three days. The cluster grew by three additional family members on 31 December. The venue, Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) was being used as a COVID-19 testing station. A McLaren Formula One team member on the now-cancelled Australian Grand Prix tested positive for the virus. He said this decision was taken from the . [51][52], On 22 March the federal government announced a second stimulus package of A$66billion, increasing the amount of total financial package offered to A$89billion. Nonetheless, on August 14, WA introduced mandatory masks and testing for truck drivers. I don't have any criticism for what they've done.". McGowan said that since 31January more than 102,000 COVID-19 tests had been done in WA. The Inquiry was to " examine the operation of Victoria's hotel quarantine program for returning travellers." Watch the video above for more details on Perth's COVID lockdown. [169][170] On the same day, Daniel Andrews announced a significant easing of restrictions to take effect over the coming weeks. [8], From 16 March, a range of restrictions were put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. Chief executive of the Australian Hotels Association WA, Bradley Woods said: "We estimate over $100 million revenue and sales has been lost as a result of this shutdown ". Gatherings of up to 20 people permitted. More than 400 people were arrested and nearly 400 penalties issued. Australia's coronavirus lockdown rules and restrictions explained Read more This is the first 50 days of the shutdown. [138], On 1 August, the 2020 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election, deferred from 30 May, took place. Anzac Day 2020 in Isolation 2020 Credit: Jennifer Polixenni Brankin / Getty Images. The man infected a cleaner at the hotel, who then went on to infect two others in the community. Galleries, beauty services and gyms allowed to reopen. COVID-19 Interim Restrictions 2 July 2021 Perth and Peel will transition out of lockdown from 12.01am Saturday, 3 July, 2021. To date, 12,693 Western Australians have tested negative for COVID-19 . Credit:Sharon Smith. Essential workers are expected to work. [92] By 18 May, this had increased to 12 cases, and on that day it was revealed that a delivery driver had tested positive, prompting the closing for cleaning of 12 more McDonald's locations: Melton East, Laverton North, Yallambie, Taylors Lakes, Campbellfield, Sunbury, Hoppers Crossing, Riverdale Village, Sandown, Calder Highway Northbound/Outbound, Calder Highway Southbound/Inbound, and BP Rockbank Service Centre Outbound. Those and the casino gaming floor were to remain shut until at least 12:01am on 8 May (Saturday). Genome sequencing in Victoria earlier this month revealed more than 90 per cent of the states deadly second wave could be traced back to a breach in hotel quarantine at The Rydges on Swanston hotel, where a security guard became infected from a returning traveller. Struck from 1oz of 99.99% pure silver, this superb investment coin portrays John M. Mercanti's sixth artistic impression of a wedge-tailed eagle. [133] (See 19 July in COVID-19 pandemic in Australia#Victoria for more details. [13] On 6 April, school holidays started one week earlier than planned. Retail shops like Bunnings are closed for the first time. [citation needed], In late September a report from Ernst & Young stated that pandemic related border restrictions could result in a shortfall of 26,000 farm workers to pick fruit and vegetables over Australia's summer harvest season. [152], On 6 September, the Victorian Government released their five-step roadmap to reopening, which detailed the conditions which needed to be met to facilitate the gradual easing of Victoria's restrictions. [120], On 17 November 2020 the NSW Government announced the "Out and About" economic stimulus voucher scheme. As coronavirus sweeps the globe claiming more than 830,000 lives so far, the WA government continues to hone its defence to prevent the virus re-entering the community, its precautionary approach widely supported by the public. [112] The same day restrictions were re-tightened in Victoria, the Western Australian Government announced the state would move into "Phase 4" from 27 June, permitting some of the most relaxed restrictions in the country. WA to enter three-day snap . This means the whole of Western Australia returns to the pre-lockdown conditions, as experienced prior to 6pm on Sunday, 31 January. The 78-year-old man, from Perth, was a passenger on board the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that was forced to quarantine in the Japanese port of Yokohama. [48], On 13 December 2021, it was announced that Western Australia would fully open its borders to COVID-19 vaccinated people from interstate and overseas on 5 February 2022,[50][51] but that re-opening was subsequently delayed. [85], On 27 April, the Federal government announced A$94.6million of support was available for zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums in financial difficulties due to coronavirus restrictions. Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (2020), Jenny Mikakos Handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, National COVID-19 Coordination Commission, National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board, 2020 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election, Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (timeline), Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic#Australia, "Australia to screen some flights from China, warns coronavirus difficult to stop", "First confirmed case of novel coronavirus in Australia", "First Australian coronavirus case confirmed in Victoria", "Coronavirus: three cases in NSW and one in Victoria as infection reaches Australia", "Coronavirus spreads across Australia amid scramble to find more cases", "Australians told not to travel to mainland China due to coronavirus threat, border restrictions tightened considerably", "Chinese woman in Queensland confirmed as 15th Australian coronavirus case", "Five more Australian Diamond Princess cruise passengers diagnosed with coronavirus", "Coronavirus (COVID-19) current situation and case numbers", "Coronavirus pandemic fears prompt Government to activate emergency response and extend travel ban", "Australia announces Iran travel ban amid COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic", "WA man becomes first Australian to die from coronavirus", "Coronavirus live update: Australia reports first cases of community transmission", "Australia records first cases of human-to-human transmission of coronavirus", "First coronavirus case confirmed in Tasmania, after man who travelled from Iran tests positive for COVID-19", "First coronavirus death confirmed in NSW as infections increase", "Doctor who had coronavirus demands apology from Victorian health minister over 'inaccuracies', "Melbourne GP clinic closed after doctor tests positive for coronavirus", "Third Australian with coronavirus dies as infection rates in NSW climbs", "Three new cases of COVID-19 in Victoria", "Coronavirus now Australia-wide as ACT confirms first case of COVID-19", "Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson test positive for coronavirus on the Gold Coast", "Coronavirus: We have a clear plan to see Australia through, says Scott Morrison", "Media Statements COVID-19 precaution postpones works at Peel Health Campus", "More COVID-19 cases confirmed in Victoria", "Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has coronavirus", "All new jury trials in Victoria to be suspended amid coronavirus crisis", "Government reviewing Italy travel advice amid coronavirus lockdown", "Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic phase will call for 'extreme measures', Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says", "State Of Emergency Declared in Victoria Over COVID-19", "A STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL", "University of Queensland halts all lectures due to coronavirus fears", "Another eight Queenslanders confirmed with COVID-19", "NSW Government announces $2.3billion coronavirus stimulus package", Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Declaration2020, "Human biosecurity emergency declared in Australia", "Coronavirus: calls to repatriate 15,000 crew members from cruise ships off Australia's coast", "COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics News", "NT Government announces $60million coronavirus economic stimulus package", "THE VIRTUAL GATES HAVE CLOSED ON A MASSIVE EVENT!