Premier Mark McGowan has announced a gradual easing of lockdown restrictions from midnight tonight, as the state records its second day with no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19.
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Premier Mark McGowan has announced a gradual easing of lockdown restrictions from midnight tonight, as the state records its second day with no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19.
During a press conference this afternoon, Mr McGowan confirmed that interim restrictions would remain in place until 12.01am on Saturday, May 1, with masks to remain mandatory indoors, outdoors and on public transport, and capacity limits on venues.
People will be free to leave their homes and return to work, unless they can work from home, and schools will resume. Universities, however, will only be open for online learning.
All venues, including hospitality venues, entertainment venues and retail outlets, will be allowed to reopen, but a four-square-metre rule and 20-patron limit will remain in place.
Workplaces, schools and public transport are exempt from the four-square-metre rule. Hospitality venues, including pubs, cafes, and restaurants, will be open for seated service only.
Mr McGowan said the "step down" approach would be enforced while the state waited for the 14-day incubation period of the virus to come to an end, warning that despite the encouraging test results, the virus could still be out there.
The state government announced a snap three-day lockdown on Friday after Victorian authorities confirmed that a Melbourne man had tested for COVID-19 after landing in Melbourne from Perth on April 21.
The man, who had returned from Shanghai, tested negative for the virus on day 12 before leaving quarantine at Mercure Hotel Perth on April 17; a hotel at the centre of a COVID outbreak earlier this month.
The lockdown was enforced after a close contact of the man, a Kardinya woman in her 40s, tested positive for the virus; the state’s first case of community transmission in more than a year.
The following day, a second person tested positive for the virus, a man in his 40s, causing the number of potential exposure sites to swell to 33.
It is understood the man, who is from Perth’s northern suburbs, contracted the virus after attending the Kitchen Inn in Kardinya at the same time as the Victorian man.
The other 50 close contacts from the restaurant have tested negative for the virus.
The man, referred to as case 986, is now in hotel quarantine.
In the last 72 hours, more than 29,963 tests have been conducted.
Exposure sites:
High risk:
Joondalup: ThaiThymes (restaurant with seating) 22/04/2021- 6:45pm – 8:00pm
Morley: Kung Fu Kitchen, 21/04/2021- 5pm – 7pm
Northbridge: City China Garden, 20/04/2021 - 5pm – 8pm
Northbridge: Good Fortune Roast Duck House, 19/04/2021 - 5pm – 8pm
Northbridge: Fortune Five Chinese Restaurant, 18/04/2021 - 5.30pm – 7pm
Kardinya: Kitchen Inn, 18/04/2021- 12pm – 2pm
East Victoria Park: Anything La Corner, 17/04/2021 - 5.30pm – 8pm
Potential exposure sites:
Crawley: St Catherine's on Park (Heim building) 18/04/2021 – 21/04/2021
Landsdale: Landsdale Early Learning and Enrichment Childcare, 23/04/2021 - 5pm – 5.30pm
Canning Vale: Star Family Medicine Practice, 23/04/2021 - 9am – 11am
Alexander Heights: Puma Service Station, 23/04/2021 - 5.15pm – 5.45pm
Joondalup: Chemist Warehouse, 22/04/2021 - 8pm - 9pm
Bentley: Subway, 22/04/2021 - 11.45am-12.30pm
Landsdale: Landsdale Early Learning and Enrichment Childcare, 22/04/2021 - 4.30pm – 5pm
Joondalup: Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre (Target), 22/04/2021 - 8pm – 8.30pm
Wangara: Dynamic Music Academy, 22/04/2021 - 5pm – 6.30pm
Kardinya: Terry White Chemmart, 22/04/2021 - 7.10pm – 8.30pm
Applecross: DB Dental, 22/04/2021 - 8am – 6pm
Landsdale: Landsdale Early Learning and Enrichment Childcare, 21/04/2021 - 4.45pm – 5.15pm
Morley: Caltex Woolworths petrol station, 21/04/2021 - 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Morley: Galleria (Coles and Kmart), 21/04/2021 - 7pm – 9pm
Booragoon: Leisurefit Aquatic Centre, 21/04/2021 - 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Willetton: TS Bakery, 21/04/2021 - 3.03pm – 3.06pm
Willetton: Southlands Shopping Centre (specifically: Gilbert's Fresh Markets, Coles, BankWest)
21/04/2021 - 3pm – 3.30pm
QANTAS domestic terminal (T3 - T4), 21/04/2021 - 11am – 1pm
Crawley: St Catherine's on Park – Dining Hall, 21/04/2021 - 7am – 9am
Landsdale: Landsdale Early Learning and Enrichment Childcare, 20/04/2021 - 4.45pm – 5.15pm*
Perth: WA Orchard Fruit and Veg shop, 19/04/2021 - 5.25pm - 6.25pm
Subiaco: Fortune Acupuncture Chinese Medical Clinic, 19/04/2021 - 1.30pm – 3pm
Kardinya: BP Service Station, 19/04/2021 - 11am – 12pm
Crawley: St Catherine's on Park – Dining Hall, 19/04/2021 - 7am – 9am
Mount Pleasant: Brentwood Deli, 18/04/2021 - 8.30am – 9.30am
Booragoon: Leisurefit Aquatic centre 17/04/2021 - 3.30pm – 6pm