Two million West Australians will have to continue wearing masks when out of the house, except when strenuously exercising outdoors, for another eight days under post-lockdown rules announced by the State Government.
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But restaurants, bars, gyms and retailers will be able to reopen from Friday night, although with significant restrictions on their trade.
Schools will reopen on Monday.
It comes as the lockdown of the Perth, Peel and South West regions is set to end at 6:00pm on Friday, with no new local cases detected since the positive test of a security guard working in hotel quarantine.
In a late-night announcement less than 24 hours before the shutdown ends, Premier Mark McGowan apologised for the lockdown, but said it was necessary to ensure WA did not have community spread of the virus.
"I also want to say that I regret and apologise for any distress, loss or inconvenience the events of this week has caused. I know it has been hard and I wish it didn't happen."
Restrictions to ease in South West
Post-lockdown restrictions will continue to apply in the Perth and Peel regions until 12.01am on February 14.
But the South West will return to the same level of restrictions it had before the quarantine infection.
Only essential travel will be permitted in and out of the Perth and Peel regions under the post-lockdown restrictions.
A 20-person gathering limit will apply in homes, while hospitality, entertainment, retail and fitness venues and weddings will have their capacity capped at 150 people until February 14.
Nightclubs and the casino will have to remain closed.
Bars will only be allowed to run a seated service, with dancing prohibited, while the one person per 4-square-metre capacity limit will also apply at hospitality venues.
Masks will have to be worn by high school students and teachers but not primary school students.
"Masks will remain mandatory, both indoors and outdoors and on public transport. However, you will no longer be required to wear a mask during vigorous outdoor exercise," the Premier said.
"I know it might be annoying, I've taken a while to get used to it myself but it’s an extra precaution that gives us the confidence to open back up."
Some restrictions on aged care visits would continue.
Lockdown 'not overreaction': Premier
The Premier said he had "laid awake at night worrying" about whether the five-day lockdown was an overreaction to a single case of COVID.
"Was it an overreaction? I don't think so because let's imagine had we not done this and we had cases out there incubating in the community and people moving around and spreading it, and then next week we suddenly had a big eruptions of cases around Perth," he said.
"Then everyone would rightfully be saying 'why didn't you take action earlier?'"
Mr McGowan said 189 of the 191 close contacts of the security guard had now tested negative.
Test results for the other two are still pending.
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson also praised residents in Perth, Peel and the South West for their compliance.
"We know it's been very inconvenient for many people, but the way the community has responded has been magnificent and it has helped us to get on top of this latest COVID-19 problem," Commissioner Dawson said.
"The fact that police have handed out more masks than infringements, I think, reflects the values of all Western Australians and their commitment to each other."
Mr McGowan said it was important people continued to use QR codes to check in at venues, retail outlets and cafes, and fines could be issued for those failing to comply.
"It's up to a $1,000 infringement notice and up to $50,000 if you went to court. But obviously that would be a last resort," he said.
"We don't have a police officer in every cafe, restaurant, supermarket and shopping centre across the state but … if people are deliberately flouting, and are observed doing so, then police can actually charge them."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMib2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTAyLTA1L21hcmstbWNnb3dhbi1hbm5vdW5jZXMtd2EtY292aWQtcmVzdHJpY3Rpb25zLXdpbGwtc3RheS1kZXNwaXRlLS8xMzEyMzQ4MNIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMzEyMzQ4MA?oc=5
2021-02-04 13:04:00Z
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