COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia

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COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationWestern Australia, Australia
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index casePerth
Confirmed cases1,019
Active cases1
Hospitalised cases0
Recovered1,009
Deaths
9
Fatality rate0.88%
Government website
www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia is part of the ongoing worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 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, the state had eliminated community transmission of COVID-19, becoming one of the few places in the world to do so. Since then, there have only been a handful of cases of community transmission in Western Australia.[1]

Western Australia's low case numbers were attributed to a swift introduction of restrictions by authorities, a strict state border policy, and Western Australia's isolation.[1]

Timeline[edit]

Sixty crew from MV Artania (mostly musicians) were put into quarantine at the Novotel hotel.

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.[2][3] He died on 1 February, becoming the first death due to COVID-19 in Western Australia.[4]

Introduction of restrictions[edit]

On 11 March, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic.[1] On 15 March 2020, Premier Mark McGowan declared a state of emergency in Western Australia, along with a formal public health emergency.[5]

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.[6] Gatherings of more than 500 people were banned. People coming from overseas were forced to self-isolate for 14 days.[1] On 18 March, indoor gatherings of over 100 people were banned.[1]

On 24 March, the state borders were closed and all interstate arrivals were required to self-isolate for 14 days.[7]

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.[8] Within the Kimberley region, movement was further restricted to prevent travel between each of the four local government areas.[9]

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.[10] On 6 April, school holidays started one week earlier than planned.[1] On 11 April, Western Australia recorded its last case of unknown community transmission for 2020.[1] On 19 April, Western Australia recorded no new cases of COVID-19 for the first time in over a month.[11]

MV Artania departed Fremantle on 18 April following a standoff with state and federal governments over responsibility for the care of passengers and crew.[12]

Easing of restrictions[edit]

From 27 April, gatherings of up to 10 people were permitted. Schools opened for term 2 on the originally scheduled date, 28 April.[1]

From 18 May, gatherings of up to 20 people were permitted, and on 6 June, gatherings of up to 300 people were allowed outdoors, and 100 people indoors.[1]

On 7 August, easing of internal WA restrictions set for 15 August were deferred to at least 29 August due to the Victorian outbreak.[13] They were again further delayed to at least 24 October.[citation needed]

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.[14] Approximately 2 million people in WA were affected by the lockdown.[15]

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.[16] 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.[15]

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.[17] The last lockdown specific restrictions were lifted at 12:01 am on 14 February. Premier 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.[18]

Also on 5 February, Premier 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.[19]

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.[20] The traveller was quarantined after he travelled to India to get married.[21] 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.[20] In response to the lockdown, Air New Zealand canceled a flight between Auckland and Perth.[22] 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.[21]

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.[23] He had already received his first dose of COVID vaccine. Two of his seven housemates, both food delivery drivers, then tested positive.[24][25] 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 spectators were not allowed at the Western AFL Derby on 2 May at Optus Stadium. Prior to the guards infection, up to 45,000 people were to be allowed to attend. On Sunday 2 May, WA Premier McGowan also announced a number of new restrictions, including that nightclubs were to be closed immediately. Those and the casino gaming floor will 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 April 17. As of 3 May another lockdown was still a possibility.[23][24][25]

June 2021[edit]

On 23 May, Western Australia is scheduled to remove the 2-square-metre (22 sq ft) rule and 75% capacity limit for all venues, removing all capacity restrictions on venues.[26]

Event cancellations[edit]

  • Whilst initially stated in June 2020 to be going ahead,[27][28] 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.[29][30][31]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i McNeill, Heather. "A timeline of WA's COVID-19 response: Was our success luck, good management, or a bit of both?". WAtoday. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  2. ^ Borrello, Eliza. "First WA coronavirus case flown to Perth for treatment after evacuating Diamond Princess ship". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Agency Advisory #3 COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease)" (PDF). Department of Health. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  4. ^ "WA confirms first novel Coronavirus death". Department of Health. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  5. ^ Al Jrood, Tabarak; Piesse, Emily; Parke, Erin. "Coronavirus quarantine rule prompts WA threat of $50,000 penalty as panic buying intensifies". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  6. ^ "'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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ Laschon, Eliza. "No new coronavirus COVID-19 cases in WA for the first time in more than five weeks". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  12. ^ Perpitch, Nicolas (18 April 2020). "Artania cruise ship leaves Fremantle after fatal coronavirus outbreak on board". ABC News. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ a b 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ Perpitch, Nicholas; De Poloni, Gian. "WA to move to phase five of COVID-19 plan as hospitality restrictions removed". ABC News. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  27. ^ Manfield, Evelyn. "Perth Skyworks to go ahead next Australia Day despite coronavirus disruption risks". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Perth Skyworks Confirmed For 2021". So Perth. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  29. ^ "Skyworks 2021 axed by City of Perth amid coronavirus concerns". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  30. ^ Pascual Juanola, Marta. "Perth's Australia Day Skyworks cancelled due to COVID-19 fears". WAtoday. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Perth Skyworks 2021 Now Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Concerns". So Perth. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
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