Jump to content

COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia
Traffic sign in Perth advising of regional travel bans, May 2020
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationWestern Australia
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index casePerth
Confirmed cases1,356,147 (as of 3 November 2023)[1]
Active cases231 (as of 3 November 2023)
Hospitalised cases89 (as of 3 November 2023)
Critical cases1 (as of 3 November 2023)
Recovered1,354,675 (as of 3 November 2023)
Deaths
1,241 (as of 3 November 2023)
Fatality rate0.09%
Government website
www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Western Australia (WA) confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on 21 February 2020, and its first death on 1 March. On 15 March, premier Mark McGowan declared a state of emergency. On 24 March, Western Australia closed its borders to the rest of Australia, and on 1 April, the state implemented borders between regions in the state. By mid-April 2020, the state had eliminated community transmission of COVID-19, becoming one of the few places in the world to do so. There were only a handful of cases of community transmission in the state after mid-April,[2] until late December 2021 when a tourist caused an outbreak that led to the cancelling of some New Year's Eve events, and the re-imposing of mask wearing rules in Perth and the Peel region.[3]

Western Australia's low case numbers were attributed to a swift introduction of restrictions by authorities, a strict state border policy, and its isolation.[2] During May 2022, Western Australia experienced sharply rising cases amongst the highest per capita cases seen anywhere in the world throughout the pandemic.[4]

Timeline

[edit]

Early 2020

[edit]

Western Australia confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on 21 February 2020, a man who was evacuated off the Diamond Princess cruise ship and flown to Darwin. When he tested positive, he was flown by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to Perth, and was isolated at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.[5][6] He died on 1 March, becoming the first death due to COVID-19 in Western Australia.[7]

Introduction of restrictions

[edit]

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic.[2] On 15 March, Premier Mark McGowan declared a state of emergency in Western Australia, along with a formal public health emergency.[8]

From 16 March, a range of restrictions were put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. Schools were prevented from organising gatherings of over 500, including swimming and sports carnivals, interschool carnivals, performances, concerts, exhibitions, fetes and fairs.[9] Gatherings of more than 500 people were banned. People coming from overseas were required to self-isolate for 14 days.[2] On 18 March, indoor gatherings of over 100 people were banned.[2]

On 24 March, the state borders were closed and all interstate arrivals were required to self-isolate for 14 days.[10]

On 1 April, regional border restrictions were implemented across Western Australia restricting travel between regions to essential services only. People were given a 48-hour warning to return to their home region. At the time, Perth Stadium became the state's COVID-19 incident response centre.[11] Within the Kimberley region, movement was further restricted to prevent travel between each of the four local government areas.[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.[13] On 6 April, school holidays started one week earlier than planned.[2] On 11 April, Western Australia recorded its last case of unknown community transmission for 2020.[2] On 19 April, Western Australia recorded no new cases of COVID-19 for the first time in over a month.[14]

MV Artania departed Fremantle on 18 April following a standoff with state and federal governments over responsibility for the care of passengers and crew.[15]

Easing of restrictions

[edit]
Phase Date effective Changes to restrictions
One 27 April 2020 Gatherings of up to 10 people permitted. Schools opened for term 2 on the originally scheduled date, 28 April.[16]
Two 18 May 2020 Gatherings of up to 20 people permitted. Dine in at cafés, restaurants and pubs allowed to reopen. Internal travel restrictions reduced from 13 regions to 4.[17] All remaining regional boundaries were later removed on May 29, with the exception of travel to remote Aboriginal communities.[18]
Three 6 June 2020 Gatherings of up to 100 people permitted indoors, and 300 outdoors. Galleries, beauty services and gyms allowed to reopen.[19]
Four 27 June 2020 All gathering restrictions removed, limited only by a one-person per 2 square metres rule. All events excluding large festivals permitted. Major sport and entertainment venues allowed 50% capacity.[20] Phase 4 restrictions were modified from 24 October 2020 for venues hosting mainly seated events, exempting them from the 2 square metre rule and allowing operation at 60% capacity.[21]
Five 23 June 2021 2 square metre rule removed, and all venues may operate at 100% capacity. The only remaining restriction is travel to remote Aboriginal communities.[22] Phase five was initially scheduled to begin on 18 July 2020. However, due to the Victorian outbreak, the date was pushed back several times, first to 1 August 2020,[23] then 15 August,[24] 29 August,[25] and 24 October.[26] On 19 October 2020, phase five was pushed back indefinitely, with modifications to phase four restrictions taking place instead.[27]

On 25 November the WA government introduced its Safe WA QR code based contact tracing smartphone application. From 5 December, venues in WA were required to keep a register of patrons and staff for the purpose of contact tracing. Use of the app for that purpose was not mandatory, other electronic or paper based systems were also allowed.[28]

February 2021 lockdown

[edit]

On 31 January 2021, a quarantine hotel security guard at the Four Points by Sheraton in Perth tested positive. A lockdown from 6 pm on 31 January to 6 pm on 5 February was declared for the Perth, Peel and South West regions. Schools within the lockdown area (which were anticipated to open the following day) remained closed and reopened the following week.[29] Approximately 2 million people in Western Australia were affected by the lockdown.[30]

In response to the lockdown, health authorities in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Victoria declared the affected areas to be COVID-19 hotspots. The states quickly enacted a variety of restrictions against travellers from WA who arrived since 25 January including requiring COVID testing, 5 to 14 days of self or supervised quarantine, and Victoria forbidding entry without a permit.[31] On 2 February New South Wales ordered more than 1,100 people who had visited affected areas in WA since 25 January into five days of lockdown, adhering to the same restrictions as in WA. New arrivals from WA had to have a COVID-19 test within 48 hours, or undergo 14 days of quarantine.[30]

The lockdown was lifted on 5 February, but some rules such as mandatory mask wearing, and travel restrictions, were maintained in the Peel and Perth regions.[32] The last lockdown specific restrictions were lifted at 12:01 am on 14 February. McGowan said that since 31 January more than 102,000 COVID-19 tests had been done in WA. There were no new COVID-19 cases detected in WA overnight before the change, and only five active cases in WA, all in hotel quarantine.[33]

Also on 5 February, McGowan announced a A$43 million package to assist small businesses and charities in WA who suffered financially during the lockdown, in the form of a A$500 offset on their electricity bill. 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 …". Plans to increase WA's weekly international flight arrival cap were postponed to the end of February.[34]

April and May 2021 lockdown

[edit]

On 23 April 2021, due to an asymptomatic returned traveller who tested positive after completing 14 days of hotel quarantine and subsequently went into the community, a lockdown from 12:01 am on 24 April to 12:01 am on 27 April was declared for the Perth and Peel regions.[35] The traveller was quarantined after he travelled to India to get married.[36] ANZAC Day commemorations inside the lockdown area (which were anticipated to go ahead with caps on attendance) were cancelled and people were encouraged to participate in driveway dawn services, as was the case in 2020.[35] In response to the lockdown, Air New Zealand canceled a flight between Auckland and Perth.[37] The lockdown ended on 26 April, as originally scheduled, with no new case of community transmission. For the following four days some restrictions such as: mandatory face masks in public; some venue closures; and number restrictions for public and private gatherings, remained in force, but travel beyond the Perth and Peel areas was allowed.[36]

On 1 May 2021, a guard at the Pan Pacific quarantine hotel in Perth, tested positive to COVID-19. While likely to have been infectious the guard visited several locations in the community, raising the possibility of another lockdown in Western Australia.[38] He had already received his first dose of COVID vaccine. Two of his seven housemates, both food delivery drivers, then tested positive.[39][40] It is not known how the guard became infected, but they worked at the hotel on 24, 25 and 26 April, including on the same floor as two returned travellers who were COVID-19 positive. One result was that AFL spectators were not allowed at the Western AFL Derby on May 2 at Optus Stadium. Prior to the guards infection, up to 45,000 people were to be allowed to attend. On Sunday 2 May, McGowan also announced a number of new restrictions, including that nightclubs were to be closed immediately. Those and the casino gaming floor were to remain shut until at least 12:01 am on 8 May (Saturday). Under the restrictions, masks remained mandatory indoors and outdoors in the Perth and Peel regions, unless people had a medical exemption, or were doing vigorous exercise outside. This included those who had been in Perth or Peel since 17 April. As of 3 May another lockdown was still a possibility.[38][39][40]

June 2021

[edit]

In mid-June, there was controversy when the Western Australia Police accessed data from the SafeWA contact tracing app as part of a murder investigation. Legislation was introduced to the WA Parliament on 15 June to make such access illegal. When the app was introduced in November 2020, the WA Health Minister said that only tracing personnel would have access to the data.[41]

On 23 June, Western Australia removed the 2-square-metre (22 sq ft) rule and 75% capacity limit for all venues, removing all capacity restrictions on venues.[42]

Due to the growing Bondi cluster in Sydney, from 11am on 23 June, Western Australia reinstated a hard border with NSW. For border entry, special exemptions and 14 days quarantine were required.[43]

"Overnight" on 24 June 2021, a 61-year-old woman died in Royal Perth Hospital from immune thrombocytopenic purpura, which was later linked by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to her Astra-Zeneca vaccination in early June.[44][45] She was the third person in Australia to die from an adverse reaction to an Astra-Zeneca vaccination; the first two deaths were in NSW from thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome.[46]

On 27 June at mid-day, restrictions in the Perth and Peel regions were tightened for at least three days after a woman tested positive after she visited a known COVID-19 hotspot in Sydney on 19 June, returned to Perth on 20 June and tested positive on 26 June.[47] Measures included mandatory mask wearing on public transport and indoors, re-introduction of the 2-square-metre rule for public venues, and limits on gatherings.[48] On 28 June, a 4-day lockdown was declared, requiring people to stay home except for essential work, shopping or medical appointments.[49]

14 days quarantine was required for any border entry from the ACT, NT or Queensland. Travel from New South Wales and Victoria was already restricted, so only travellers from South Australia and Tasmania are not required to quarantine.[48]

December 2021

[edit]

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.[52]

An unvaccinated French backpacker tested positive to COVID-19 after flying to Perth from Queensland. He had attended several large social events,[53] and subsequently, as of 5 January 2022, 21 local cases were linked to that event.[54]

In response to the outbreak, masks were mandatory at all public indoor settings and public transport, some music festivals were cancelled, and nightclubs were closed. The restrictions applied from 23 December to 4 January 2022, after which venues were able to open, but masks were still required until 6 pm on 7 January 2022.[55][56] From 7 January masks were only required in higher risk places, such as hospitals and public transport.[57]

January 2022

[edit]

As of 12.01 am on 3 January, WA declared Tasmania and the ACT to be "high risk" locations.[58]

As of 5 January 2022 the Northern Territory was classed as medium risk, while New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria were classed as extreme risk.[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. Visitors to Perth or Peel from 6 January were required to wear a mask indoors if they had gone to another area. There were 81 known and active Omicron cases in WA. There were 112 total active COVID cases in WA, 34 quarantined in hotels, 78 self-quarantined.[60]

On 17 January mask wearing rules were extended to WA's South West Region. Anyone who has been in the Region since 12 January must also follow the mask rule. The opening exhibition of the 2022 Perth Festival was cancelled because of the "current public health situation".[61] The state's first dose COVID vaccination rate was 95.3%, second dose of 87.9% for those aged 12+, and booster doses 21.9% for ages 16+.[61]

On 20 January, McGowan delayed the reopening of the state's borders, announced on 13 December 2021 as scheduled for 5 February. 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.[62]

On 27 January, the mask mandate was extended to the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions. The mask requirement also applies to anyone who was in those regions since 20 January and has gone elsewhere.[63]

From 31 January, proof of vaccination was required for entry to hospitals, aged care facilities, hospitality and indoor entertainment venues across the state.[64]

February 2022

[edit]

On 18 February, it was announced the border would reopen on 3 March for people from outside Australia and triple vaccinated people from interstate.[65]

September 2022

[edit]

On 21 September, the Emergency Management Amendment (Temporary COVID-19 Provisions) Bill 2022 passed the lower house of the WA Parliament after a debate that finished at midnight.[66] The legislation was designed to allow WA to exit the state of emergency, which the state had been under since 15 March 2020—a total of 922 days as of 23 September. The major change that the legislation was to bring about was that the Emergency Services Minister would no longer be involved—as they had to extend the state of emergency every fortnight—and that the police commissioner would be able to give themselves emergency powers if they were satisfied that COVID is, or imminently will be, "of such a nature or magnitude that it requires a coordinated response" and that "There is a need to exercise powers… to prevent or minimise loss of life, prejudice to the safety, or harm to the health, of persons."[67][68]

Statistics

[edit]

COVID-19 cumulative cases in Western Australia[69]

COVID-19 daily cases in Western Australia[69]

Event cancellations

[edit]
  • The 2020 Fairbridge Festival was postponed for 6 months, then cancelled.[70][71]
  • Whilst initially stated in June 2020 to be going ahead,[72][73] the 2021 City of Perth Skyworks were cancelled in November 2020. The event usually has between 250,000 and 300,000 people gather to watch, but the Chief Health Officer ruled that the event could not go ahead.[74][75][76]
  • In 2021, Anzac Day services in Perth city and the Peel region were cancelled when those areas entered a sudden 3 day COVID-19 lockdown on 23 April.[35]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WA COVID-19 Dashboard". WA Department of Health. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g McNeill, Heather (27 August 2020). "A timeline of WA's COVID-19 response: Was our success luck, good management, or a bit of both?". WAtoday. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Western Australia records five new local COVID-19 cases as exposure sites grow". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Explainer: why are Covid infection rates in Australia so high compared with other countries?". the Guardian. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  5. ^ Borrello, Eliza (21 February 2020). "First WA coronavirus case flown to Perth for treatment after evacuating Diamond Princess ship". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Agency Advisory #3 COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease)" (PDF). Department of Health. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  7. ^ "WA confirms first novel Coronavirus death". Department of Health. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  8. ^ Al Jrood, Tabarak; Piesse, Emily; Parke, Erin (15 March 2020). "Coronavirus quarantine rule prompts WA threat of $50,000 penalty as panic buying intensifies". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  9. ^ "'Precautionary measures' introduced at WA schools in bid to avoid coronavirus". ABC News. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Western Australia, South Australia to close borders in response to coronavirus pandemic". ABC News. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  11. ^ "New COVID-19 restrictions on travel within WA as big queues form on WA/SA border ahead of closure - ABC News". abc.net.au. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  12. ^ Parke, Erin; Nadge, Rebecca; Carmody, James (2 April 2020). "Kimberley coronavirus case spike sees shire borders closed to protect the vulnerable from COVID-19". ABC News. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Coronavirus sees WA close its borders from midnight on Sunday to stop COVID-19 spread from eastern states". ABC News. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  14. ^ Laschon, Eliza (20 April 2020). "No new coronavirus COVID-19 cases in WA for the first time in more than five weeks". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  15. ^ Perpitch, Nicolas (18 April 2020). "Artania cruise ship leaves Fremantle after fatal coronavirus outbreak on board". ABC News. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  16. ^ "WA eases coronavirus restrictions to allow 10-person gatherings". www.abc.net.au. 26 April 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Premier reveals restaurants, regional borders to reopen". The West Australian. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  18. ^ "WA unlocked to travellers as almost all regional restrictions set to end for long weekend". www.abc.net.au. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  19. ^ "One in four metre square rule set to be scrapped in WA next weekend". www.abc.net.au. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  20. ^ Wahlquist (now), Calla; Remeikis (earlier), Amy (22 June 2020). "WA eases restrictions as NSW residents urged to avoid travel to Melbourne – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  21. ^ "'The virus is circling': Phase 5 restrictions delayed". The West Australian. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  22. ^ "WA bars, cafes, restaurants and festivals to return to 100 per cent capacity". www.abc.net.au. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Complacency blamed as WA's phase five restrictions pushed back to August". www.abc.net.au. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Phase 5 restrictions in WA delayed by weeks". 7NEWS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Easing of coronavirus restrictions delayed as WA remains on 'high alert' due to Victorian outbreak". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  26. ^ Laschon, Eliza (17 August 2020). "Perth Royal Show axed as WA's coronavirus phase 5 restrictions pushed back by two months". ABC News. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  27. ^ Trail, Michael (19 October 2020). "Coronavirus crisis: Mark McGowan reveals delay to phase five restrictions due to outbreak threat". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020.
  28. ^ Bell, Frances (25 November 2020). "WA venues to adopt mandatory contact register from December 5 amid coronavirus risk". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  29. ^ Laschon, Eliza (31 January 2021). "COVID lockdown announced for Perth and South West after quarantine hotel worker tests positive". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  30. ^ a b Carmody, James (1 February 2021). "NSW orders West Australian arrivals into five-day lockdown to stop spread of virulent UK strain". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  31. ^ "States begin responding to WA coronavirus case, Queensland, NT, Vic, ACT declare affected region a hotspot". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  32. ^ Kagi, Jacob; Medlen, Pamela (4 February 2021). "WA Premier says masks will remain compulsory in Perth despite lack of new COVID-19 cases". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 February 2021. … a travel bubble will effectively exist around Perth and Peel until Sunday week.
  33. ^ Warriner, Jessica (14 February 2021). "Masks off as COVID-19 restrictions lift in Perth, Peel regions amid no new cases". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 February 2021. … no further cases of community transmission … the State Government confirmed on Friday that mask-wearing and other restrictions would lift on Sunday as planned.
  34. ^ Laschon, Eliza (5 February 2021). "WA coronavirus lockdown ends, Premier Mark McGowan unveils $43m package to help small businesses". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 February 2021. … eligible businesses and charities would be able to access a $500 offset on their electricity bill under a $43 million package.
  35. ^ a b c Perpitch, Nicolas (23 April 2021). "Perth lockdown for three days will see Anzac Day services cancelled, residents urged to stay indoors". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  36. ^ a b Warriner, Jessica; Manfield, Evelyn; Weber, David (26 April 2021). "Lockdown ends in Perth and Peel as no new community cases recorded". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  37. ^ Daly, Michael (23 April 2021). "Trans-Tasman bubble: Travel paused between New Zealand and Western Australia due to Covid-19 outbreak". Stuff. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  38. ^ a b Vinall, Frances (1 May 2021). "Hotel security guard, household members test positive to COVID-19 in WA". NewsComAu. Nationwide News Pty Limited. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  39. ^ a b Png, Kenith (2 May 2021). "Western Australia regions of Perth and Peel face nervous wait as Premier Mark McGowan flags possible lockdown". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  40. ^ a b Brown, Natalie (2 May 2021). "WA Premier Mark McGowan announced new restrictions as COVID cases climb". NewsComAu. Nationwide News Pty Limited. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  41. ^ Manfield, Evelyn (15 June 2021). "Police access SafeWA app data for murder investigation, prompting urgent law change". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  42. ^ Perpitch, Nicholas; De Poloni, Gian (20 June 2021). "WA to move to phase five of COVID-19 plan as hospitality restrictions removed". ABC News. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  43. ^ Noble, Freya; Pearson, Nick (24 June 2021). "State-by-state travel restrictions as NSW outbreak grows". 9News. Nine Digital Pty Ltd. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  44. ^ Gubana, Benjamin; Perpitch, Nicolas (24 June 2021). "WA Health authorities report woman's death in hospital, vaccine history sent to TGA". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  45. ^ "COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report - 08-07-2021 @ Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)". www.tga.gov.au. Australian Government Department of Health, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 8 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021. An external Vaccine Safety Investigation Group (VSIG) of clinical experts and consumer representatives ... concluded that the woman's death was likely linked to the vaccine
  46. ^ 9News Staff (10 June 2021). "NSW woman's blood clot death linked to AstraZeneca vaccine". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  47. ^ Clarke, Tim (28 June 2021). "Perth on edge for 3 days due to Sydney spread". The West Australian. pp. 4–5.
  48. ^ a b Al Jrood, Tabarak (27 June 2021). "Restrictions imposed on Perth, Peel region after woman tests positive for COVID-19 after NSW trip". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  49. ^ "Perth and Peel plunged into lockdown after another local coronavirus case detected". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  50. ^ Kagi, Jacob (13 December 2021). "How life will change on WA border open date, when a raft of COVID restrictions will take effect". ABC News. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  51. ^ Towie, Narelle (13 December 2021). "Western Australia to reopen border on 5 February after almost two years sealed off from the world". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  52. ^ Law, Peter; Elton, Charlotte (20 January 2022). "Mark McGowan delays WA border reopening indefinitely over Omicron fears". The West Australian. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  53. ^ "WA records one new local case of COVID-19 following Perth Mess Hall rave". Australian Broadcasting Corportation. 26 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  54. ^ "Western Australia records five new local COVID-19 cases as exposure sites grow". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  55. ^ "Eased public health measures from 6am, Tuesday 4 January". Government of Western Australia. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  56. ^ "WA mask mandate extended in wake of growing backpacker COVID-19 cluster". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  57. ^ "Mask mandate eased for Perth and Peel". Government of Western Australia. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  58. ^ "Tasmania and ACT elevated to high risk under WA's controlled border". www.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  59. ^ "COVID-19 coronavirus: Controlled border". www.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 4 January 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  60. ^ Weber, David (16 January 2022). "Masks reintroduced as WA records five new local COVID-19 cases amid Omicron spread in Perth". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  61. ^ a b Carmody, James; Ho, Cason (17 January 2022). "Mask mandate extended to South-West as doctors call for stricter restrictions to tackle Omicron". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  62. ^ Carmody, James (20 January 2022). "Premier Mark McGowan announces delay to WA border opening amid fears Omicron will 'cripple' state". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  63. ^ Shepherd, Briana (27 January 2022). "WA records 10 new COVID-19 cases, but testing numbers plunge on Australia Day public holiday". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  64. ^ Jonathan Talbot (14 January 2022). "'No pubs, no bottle shops, no gym': WA Premier Mark McGowan widens restrictions on the unvaxxed, says rules will be in place 'for years to come'". Skynews.com.au. Australian News Channel.
  65. ^ Carmody, James; Weber, David (18 February 2022). "WA border opening date is March 3, as Mark McGowan announces new COVID restrictions". ABC News. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  66. ^ Hastie, Hamish (22 September 2022). "WA COVID state of emergency laws pass first hurdle after bitter debate". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  67. ^ "WA's COVID-induced state of emergency is ending. Here's what that means". ABC News. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  68. ^ "Emergency Management Amendment (Temporary COVID-19 Provisions) Bill 2022" (PDF). Parliament of Western Australia.
  69. ^ a b "Cases: States and Territories". covid19data.com.au. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  70. ^ Warriner, Jessica (13 March 2020). "Coronavirus outbreak sees WA events cancelled as COVID-19 pandemic shuts down festivals". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  71. ^ "FAIRBRIDGE FESTIVAL First reveal of 2021 return". xpressmag.com.au. X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  72. ^ Manfield, Evelyn (30 June 2020). "Perth Skyworks to go ahead next Australia Day despite coronavirus disruption risks". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  73. ^ "Perth Skyworks Confirmed For 2021". So Perth. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  74. ^ "Skyworks 2021 axed by City of Perth amid coronavirus concerns". ABC News. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  75. ^ Pascual Juanola, Marta (13 November 2020). "Perth's Australia Day Skyworks cancelled due to COVID-19 fears". WAtoday. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  76. ^ "Perth Skyworks 2021 Now Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Concerns". So Perth. Retrieved 19 June 2021.