Western Australia will bring in an "unprecedented" hard border closure and use police drones to help enforce strict new public gathering rules to help contain the coronavirus outbreak, the state's Premier announced today.
Key points:
- WA's hard border closure could also restrict interstate FIFO workers
- The Premier also flagged police drones will disperse groups
- New national two-person social distancing rules have been adopted
The measures came as the number of new cases of COVID-19 reported in the state continued to fall, a result Premier Mark McGowan labelled "remarkable".
Mr McGowan said the impending border closure option was more palatable than enforcing further punishing shutdowns on WA businesses.
"Instead of going down the path of forcing more businesses to shut, we've decided to go down the path of harder border closures," he said.
"The health advice is that given the situation over east, especially in New South Wales, a harder border closure is supported to prevent the importation of the virus from other states.
"This kind of border restriction is unprecedented in Western Australia but we are in a state of emergency."
Mr McGowan said the move would likely last for a month and exceptions would be allowed for freight movements, essential work and compassionate grounds.
He said he was also working with the mining industry to "wind down" interstate fly-in fly-out workers, though he acknowledged this may not be possible in all cases.
Currently interstate arrivals must self-isolate at the border if practical for 14 days if they want to enter the state.
International arrivals are being forced to isolate in hotels, which will be guarded to prevent breaches, according to the WA Premier.
'Don't come here, we don't want you'
Mr McGowan said the earliest a hard border closure was likely to be implemented would be this coming weekend, as the State Government was still "working through" the legal arrangements.
"We need to make sure it stacks up legally and can logistically work. When that work is completed, I will announce the details," he said.
The Premier said he believed such a move would be constitutional given the situation.
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But he said while the travel ban may not be implemented immediately, he wanted to make it clear that people from the eastern states should not try to come to WA.
"There is a clear message to any interstater thinking about coming to Western Australia — don't come, we don't want you here," he said.
He said the move was designed to prevent Western Australia having to take a more extreme position in terms of shutdowns that may happen in other states.
"I am reluctant to introduce additional or severe measures that would see more businesses forced to close and more jobs lost," Mr McGowan said.
"Striking this balance is not easy … dealing with this crisis is not just about saving lives, it's also about saving livelihoods.
No community spread as WA testing expanded
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in WA increased by 17 today.
WA Health Minister Roger Cook said in addition to this figure, 27 new cases were reported on the Artania cruise ship, bringing the state's total diagnosed cases to 355.
Mr Cook said the state was yet to see sustained community spread.
"Of the total confirmed cases in Western Australia now, 84 per cent are linked to either cruise ship travel, overseas travel or interstate travel," Mr Cook said.
"[In] over one third of our cases, 32 per cent have been directly related to cruise ships."
In WA, 41 cases have now fully recovered. Two of the new cases are from regional WA.
Eight cases are related to overseas travel, one through domestic travel and four are close contacts of confirmed cases.
Two of the new cases are health workers.
Mr Cook announced today the testing regime at the state's COVID-19 clinics would be expanded to include people in the community who had both a fever and respiratory illness.
Previously testing at the clinics had been restricted to those who came in from overseas, or could prove contact with a confirmed case, and health, disability and aged care workers.
"As you'd expect the number of people coming from overseas and domestically is now starting to dwindle so we're going to expand our testing regime to take in this extra cohort," Mr Cook said.
Who should present to COVID-19 clinics?
- Those who are experiencing flu-like symptoms — like sore throat, cough, fever — AND
- Have returned from overseas in the past 14 days, or
- Have been in confirmed or suspected contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, or
- Those who don't meet the above criteria but have both a fever and respiratory illness
Major clinics have been set up at Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Fiona Stanley Hospitals and will be open from 8:00am–8:00pm daily.
In regional WA, a clinic is operating at Bunbury Health Campus from 10:00am–4:00pm daily.
Clinics are also being set up in other regional and suburban metro areas.
For more information go to the Health Department website.
New case numbers falling in WA
WA Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson said over the past few days — excluding the confirmed cases on the Artania cruise ship — the number of new cases in WA had dropped.
"We are attributing it to all the measures that have been put in place," Dr Robertson said.
"The border control measures … the measures around social distancing and the measures around mass gatherings are starting to take effect."
Mr Cook said the numbers were encouraging but more needed to be done.
"We have to make sure that we test, trace and isolate, get on top of this," Mr Cook said.
"Every day that we get these low numbers is another day that we're that little bit more prepared for that onset of that community transmission."
Mr McGowan said the number of confirmed cases in recent had been "very encouraging".
"Especially compared to the eastern states," Mr McGowan said.
"This is a remarkable result, but we cannot be complacent."
WA adopts two-person social distancing rules
WA will also limit the number of people in both indoor and outdoor gatherings to a maximum of two, instead of 10, under what is being described as "stage three" restrictions.
Skateparks, playgrounds and outdoor gym equipment will also be banned in WA for one month with a plan to review the measures after two weeks.
The new restrictions are in line with the Federal Government's announcement on Sunday.
Mr McGowan said exceptions to this limit included people of the same household going out together, and funerals could still have a maximum of 10 people and weddings a maximum of five people.
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"Here in Western Australia we will be enforcing these new requirements by regulation, now obviously enforcement is not an easy task," he said.
"If you choose to ignore the law there is every chance you will get caught."
Mr McGowan said the two-person rule may be confusing, but people should generally stay home unless:
- They were shopping for essential items like food
- Venturing out for medical or health care needs, including compassionate requirements
- Exercising in compliance with the public gathering requirements
- Essential work or study, if you can't work or learn from home
The social gathering changes come into effect at midnight on Monday.
Police drones will target those breaking the rules
Mr McGowan said WA Police would be using drones with "lights and speakers" to help implement the distancing measures.
The drones would be used at beaches, parks and other public places where people congregate, "to broadcast messages to large groups of people not adhering to mass gathering or social distancing rules," Mr McGowan said.
"These drones will be highly visible, fitted with flashing lights and speakers, similar to those on police vehicles, and will be able to deliver a message to a range of up to a kilometre from their launch.
"Their primary objective is to reinforce the serious nature of the environment that we are in."
Cash for charities, rent relief for Government tenants
A $159 million Lotterywest coronavirus relief fund has been established to help those across the community experiencing hardship.
Some $59 million of that will be available for crisis and emergency relief for eligible not-for-profit and community organisations.
"It will assist with costs related to increased demand for food, clothing, shelter and other critical needs," Mr McGowan said.
"This funding will also provide urgent financial relief for not-for-profit sports, arts and community organisations experiencing hardship as a result of cancelled events."
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Mr McGowan said that from now on, all profits Lotterywest generated from jackpot draws and tickets, excluding statutory grants, would be funnelled into the fund, which was expected to amount to about $100 million.
The State Government will also spend $25 million to waive the rental payments for small businesses and not-for-profit groups who occupy Government-owned buildings for six months.
"It's important the Government sets the right example in our community," Mr McGowan said.
Mr McGowan urged commercial landlords to have some understanding for their impacted tenants.
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