WA Premier Mark McGowan delays border reopening, targets triple dose vaccination rate of 80%

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has delayed the state’s reopening over fears lagging booster vaccination rates will cause the Omicron variant to run rampant in the community.

The shock announcement was made during a late night press conference on Thursday, less than three weeks out from the expected reunion date of February 5.

Mr McGowan said the delay was due to the new threat of Omicron, which “has changed everything”.

He flagged a third dose target of 80 to 90 per cent and “a whole range of things” would be required before WA would reconsider reopening to the rest of the world.

“Omicron is a whole new ball game, it is a new state of emergency,” he said.

“A third dose of the vaccine is so vital ... the science proves third doses make a stark difference against Omicron.”

No estimated date has been given for when WA would reach the target.

Mr McGowan said allowing thousands of people with COVID-19 into WA now would cause a surge in cases and hospitalisations, “cripple the community”, and result in thousands unable to work or go to school.

“It would be reckless and irresponsible to open now. I understand many people had planned around the date, and it’s important we now provide a pathway for people to enter under compassionate grounds,” he said.

“If we can hold back this current Omicron outbreak, we will be one of the only places in the world that can reach a high third dose rate before experiencing community transmission.”

Mr McGowan denied suggestions the delayed border reopening was a sign the state government had failed to prepare the hospital system for COVID, after two years of planning.

A state disaster council meeting, held on Wednesday, concluded the reopening date would not go ahead, and instead the state’s extreme risk interstate lock-out laws would be loosened from February 5.

Returning West Australians or those with close family connections will be able to return and quarantine. Those wanting to travel to WA for compassionate reasons must be triple vaccinated and return a negative rapid antigen test 24 hours prior to entry, and then quarantine.

International travel will be permitted, but only under the arrivals cap and with 14 days of hotel and home quarantine.

Mr McGowan accepted reopening in winter months would create a greater transmission risk. He also conceded if Perth was unable to get on top of its current Omicron outbreak, and it became a mass outbreak, the rules would be revised again.

The delayed reopening announcement comes as the state government faced growing pressure to release its Omicron modelling and detail close contact and furloughing rules for essential workers, as well as any social distancing restrictions post-February 5.

Hospitality venues, hospitals, schools and workplaces had all been left in the dark about what to expect, with some such as the CrabFest and Perth Festival cancelling major events over the uncertainty, and others forcing their employees to work-from-home early.

Health staff also held concerns over the lack of rapid antigen tests the state government had procured, after being the last Australian jurisdiction to approve them in December, and with only around one million in stock.

To Thursday, 88.9 per cent of the WA population over 12 was double vaccinated, and 25.8 per cent over 16 had received their booster jab.

Perth Airport had more than 45 flights scheduled for February 5, and was bracing for its busiest day since the pandemic began.

Earlier on Thursday, Australian Nursing Federation state secretary Mark Olson said he would be surprised if Mr McGowan stuck to the February 5 opening date.

“That’s certainly not the Premier that I’ve been watching for the last two years,” he said.

WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said post-February 5, there would be shorter quarantine requirements for hospital staff. She also flagged elective surgery would be cancelled when the surge in Omicron cases does eventually arrive.

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