Western Australia's border may not be coming down on February 5, but many new rules to help the community live with Omicron come into force today.
For many people in those parts of regional WA relatively untouched by COVID-19 infections, these new ways of going to school, running a business or just going about day-to-day life will be a big change.
Even Perth and Peel residents, who have already had to be double-jabbed to enter big entertainment venues like nightclubs and events, will have to whip out their proof of COVID-19 vaccination to visit a bigger range of places.
Many people around the state will need to have received at least two jabs to be able to go to work.
There are a lot of seemingly ever-changing rules to keep track of, but here's a rundown on what you need to know for today.
Back to school
All secondary school students must follow the WA government's mask rules, which means students in Perth, Peel, the Great Southern, South West and Wheatbelt will need to wear masks indoors.
But this may extend to students in other regions if a mask mandate is issued for their area.
Once WA records higher numbers of cases — a yet-to-be-defined threshold — the Chief Health Officer may recommend introducing masks for primary students from year 3 and above.
While students do not have to be vaccinated to attend school, their teachers and school staff must have had at least two jabs.
But the vaccination requirements for visitors to school sites are a little more complicated.
If you're dropping your child off at school, entering the classroom or picking them up, you don't have to show proof of vaccination.
You also don't need to be vaccinated in order to volunteer at the school one day a week, such as working at the canteen or uniform shop, nor to attend a school event or a parent-teacher interview.
But you must be fully vaccinated to volunteer more than one day per week.
One of the harder things for families and carers to manage will be if a child tests positive to COVID-19.
Not only will they, their family and their classmates have to isolate for 14 days, but there is also a chance their school could be closed down while close and casual contacts are identified.
These rules will change if and when WA records a high caseload — a figure not yet defined by the WA government — of coronavirus infections.
Vaccinations to enter certain places
There are statewide rules requiring people entering a wide range of venues, from gyms to bottle shops to cafes, to show they have been double-jabbed.
This includes anyone visiting residential aged care facilities and hospitals — both public and private — although there will be exemptions, including for people seeing sick children or making end-of-life visits, as well as birth partners.
Other venues requiring anyone aged 16 and older to show proof of vaccination include:
- Pubs, cafes, restaurants, bars and nightclubs
- Cinemas, theatres, museums, live music venues
- Gyms and fitness studios
- Zoos
- Bottle shops
- Crown Perth complex
- Major stadiums
- Music festivals and indoor events with more than 500 people
A comprehensive list of venues can be found here.
Vaccinations to go to work
Today is the deadline for a big group of workers in businesses deemed critical by the government to be double-jabbed.
The WA government has mandated vaccines for critical businesses, about 60 per cent of the state's workforce, and it has divided them into group one and group two.
Group one businesses have workers who are deemed as crucial for community safety, like nurses and aged care workers, or at high risk of coronavirus transmission, such as border security officers.
They had to be fully vaccinated by December 31.
Group two businesses are considered critical to the local economy and community, including banks, schools and supermarkets, and their workers must be fully vaccinated by today.
They include:
- Childcare centres
- Supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, and fruit and vegetable stores
- Food vans, fast-food outlets
- Post offices
- Petrol stations
- Hotels, caravan parks and camping grounds
- Veterinary clinics
As part of the critical business vaccine mandates, all workers must receive a booster dose within one month of becoming eligible.
A comprehensive list of these businesses can be found here.
How can I show my proof of vaccination?
There are many ways, including using the ServiceWA app or Express Plus Medicare app.
You can also show the following documents but you must also provide some form of identification, such as a driver's licence, passport, Medicare card, student ID card or seniors card:
- A vaccination certificate, either in printed or digital form
- Immunisation history statement, either in digital or printed form
All of these methods can also be used to prove a medical exemption from receiving a vaccination.
Proof-of-vaccination requirements came into effect at 12.01am today.
Under the Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA), failure to comply with the rules may attract a penalty of imprisonment of up to 12 months, or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and up to $250,000 for businesses.
Booster shots
There's good news if you're one of those people who have been waiting to qualify for their booster shot.
From today, anyone aged 18 and over can get a booster shot three months — rather than four months — after their second COVID-19 vaccination.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also approved Pfizer booster shots for 16- and 17-year-olds, but these will not be rolled out until after it receives the approval of the expert group on immunisation, ATAGI.
