WA will introduce stricter COVID-19 restrictions from Thursday, with the peak of infections now expected to arrive earlier than forecast.
But those restrictions will be less severe than what was initially flagged, with some venues keeping a two-square-metre capacity limit, while others will move to the four-square-metre rule.
It comes after WA recorded 1,136 new local COVID cases, its highest daily total on record and the fourth day in a row the state has topped 1,000 daily cases.
Figures from the Health Department reveal an additional four travel-related cases, bringing to 5,540 the total number of active cases in the state.
However, the number of COVID cases in Western Australia’s far north has been significantly reduced, with cases initially reported as COVID in two remote Kimberley communities now revealed to be a different virus.
There are 11 people in hospital with COVID, none of whom are in intensive care.
In announcing the introduction of 'level two' restrictions, Premier Mark McGowan said the peak of infections was now expected in the next "two to three weeks", rather than the end of March as initially forecast.
"Therefore, if we want a set of measures to be effective, they need to come in sooner rather than later," he said.
New restrictions as WA's hard border lifts
From 12:01am on Thursday, the same day WA's borders fully reopen, the following rules will apply:
- Mask mandates expanded to children in Year 3 and above
- A 10-person limit for home gatherings
- Hospitality, fitness, entertainment and other venues will stay at the two-square-metre rule, capped at 150 patrons
- Seated and forward-facing venues, like theatres and cinemas, will be limited to 50 per cent capacity
- Nightclubs will remain with the two-square-metre rule, with the 150-person limit
- Outdoor events will be limited to the two-square-metre rule and capped at 500 people.
Mr McGowan said the adjusted rules reflected WA’s high vaccination rates and balanced the impact on businesses.
"By using the 150 patron cap, instead of the four-square-metre rule, we spare smaller, lower risk venues such as cafes and restaurants from the impacts, while at the same time slowing the surge in cases," he said.
Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson said the new restrictions would reduce hospital admissions by 234 on the day cases peak, and by 31 in the ICU.
Just over 6,000 people presented for a PCR test yesterday, while there were 476 self-reported rapid antigen tests.
Mr McGowan warned that while the rules would keep hundreds out of hospital, March would be the “rockiest month” the state had endured during the pandemic, with rising hospitalisation numbers.
“We would be irresponsible if we didn’t have the most appropriate measures in place during the period where they are most required," he said.
He acknowledged the impact it would have on some businesses, but said it was hoped the restrictions would only be in place for a month and would be reviewed at the end of March.
Support for businesses will be announced later this week and high case load protocols for a range of industries would likely take effect soon.
Case in remote WA communities false positives
The ABC understands that all 44 cases in Bidyadanga and 11 in Beagle Bay have been reclassified after additional testing by PathWest revealed the false positives.
In a statement this afternoon, a Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services spokesman said the results had become apparent after additional testing in Perth.
“Expert medical scientists, including those from the Department of Health, have scrutinised the tests, and believe that the illness detected in Bidyadanga and Beagle Bay is not COVID-19,” the statement reads.
“However, we are currently still awaiting results on a number of tests.
“Weak detection results using PCR tests can occur because of detection early or late in the course of infection, or occasionally they can be false positives."
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the results came from two testing machines given to the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service by the Commonwealth.
"Health authorities have ceased using these machines and a replacement machine has been sent to Broome."
Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson said while the news was welcome, the precautionary approach was the right one.
"While it is unfortunate for the level of community concern and inconvenience, I would always prefer to react swiftly and take a precautionary approach, rather rather than regret delayed action."
Kimberley COVID cases down to three
The news leaves the current number of active COVID cases in the Kimberley at three, with two cases detected in Halls Creek and one in Broome.
News of positive cases in Bidyadanga, WA’s largest remote community, sparked alarm last week, with the community’s leadership deciding to enter a voluntary lockdown with support from Health authorities and WA Police.
Residents in Bidyadanga and Beagle Bay received the news at community meetings on Monday afternoon.
“We’re pretty happy – pretty stoked that we can get back to going back to work and seeing what the next step is,” Bidyadanga local Francis Shoveller told the ABC.
“But a lot of us had almost a week off work and [it] pretty much impacted all our kids and all our daily life activities.”
KAMS said its emergency response, launched in the wake of the initial detections last week, would continue in both communities.
“KAMS believes it is essential a testing laboratory be established in Broome, so regional results are made available promptly and delays currently experienced by people in isolation are limited," it said in the statement.
“It is critical that all Kimberley communities continue to get vaccinated, use masks, and most of all, get tested when they have symptoms."
Mr Shoveller said the silver lining to the situation was the community now had reassurance swift and effective action would be taken in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.
Relief sweeps over remote communities
Long-time Bidyadanga resident Frankie Shoveller said while it was a relief for the community, the lockdown had been alarming.
“I think people were upset here … being locked in the community with nowhere to go except being at home, we were really worried about food,” he said.
He said the experience hit home for a community that has lived without COVID throughout the pandemic.
“It showed [locals] what can take place with COVID, getting locked down and people coming in from the medical clinic to check people – and people were quite scared with these mob coming in with uniforms and masks and things like that, but they were really happy with [them] going house to house and doing tests on them.
“We don’t want to blame the medical staff for anything, they just did their job and did what’s right for the community.”
Today's numbers reflect the typically lower testing rates on weekends, compared to the average of 11,300 PCR tests taken each weekday last week.
Looking at the number of local cases per 1,000 PCR tests can give a better idea of how quickly the outbreak is growing.
This time last week there were about 33 cases per 1,000 tests.
But today, that figure was 108 — a three-fold increase.
While testing numbers are influenced by a number of factors, including the amount of respiratory illness in the community, the overall figures show the growing spread of the virus through the state.
More free RATs to come
After announcing yesterday that every household in the state would be eligible to receive five free rapid antigen tests, Premier Mark McGowan this morning confirmed more would be offered in the future.
"We will do that, so [the] first round will be five free RATs per household, then we'll do further rounds just once we have more supply in stock," he told ABC Radio Perth.
Mr McGowan said the tests would prove useful in managing the virus as case numbers rose.
"It'll mean that people who are positive obviously know not to go to work and to isolate and so forth. So they're a great tool for making sure we don't infect other people in workplaces," he said.
The Premier also confirmed he had returned a third negative RAT after his chief of staff tested positive over the weekend.
"I'm pretty sure I'm fine, and I didn't take my mask off," he said.
