Anti-vaxxers protest after being locked out of WA venues as Covid-19 changes come into effect

Life just got much more difficult for anti-vaxxers in Western Australia and some of them have taken to the street to protest.

Anti-vaxxers have protested after being officially locked out of hospitality and entertainment venues, while the start of the school year is also looking very different in Western Australia as new Covid-19 rules take effect.

More than 100 outraged anti-vaxxers rallied outside Perth police station on Monday morning, reportedly to hand over a document demanding the arrest of Premier Mark McGowan and Governor Kim Beazley.

Anti-vaxxers also brought the Mitchell Freeway to a standstill for about 10 minutes during peak-hour traffic.

WA recorded 12 new local cases and 10 travel-related infections overnight, with all of them now in quarantine.

All of the local cases are linked to existing clusters, including seven connected to a nightclub.

Some have been infectious in the community and contact tracers are continuing to update exposure sites.

There are now 155 active cases, with 10 in hotel quarantine, 144 in self-quarantine and one in hospital.

WA Premier Mark McGowan has been targeted by anti-vaxxers. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Although the hard border is not coming down on February 5 as originally planned, due to the ongoing surge of Omicron in the eastern states, there are a raft of Covid-19 changes that begin on Monday that will impact how everyone moves around the community.

Here is everything you need to know about the harshest Covid-19 rules in the nation.

PROOF OF VACCINATION

Using the ServiceWA app, people can upload their vaccine certificate and use the same app to check-in at venues. There are also other ways to show your vaccine status.

Proof of vaccination is now required almost everywhere across the state for people aged 16 and over.

It includes anyone visiting residential aged care facilities and hospitals, although there will be exemptions such as people seeing sick children, end-of-life visits and birth partners.

Other venues where proof of vaccination must be shown include:

• Pubs, bars, taverns and nightclubs;
• Cafes, restaurants and dine-in fast food;
• Cinemas, theatres and museums;
• Gyms and fitness centres;
• Zoos and amusement parks;
• Bottle shops, including drive-throughs;
• Crown Perth complex;
• Major stadiums; and
• Music festivals and indoor events with more than 500 people.

Failure to follow the rules may lead to imprisonment for up to 12 months or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and up to $250,000 for businesses.

More information about proof of vaccination can be found here.

As flagged, ahead of our Safe Transition Plan, we will be expanding proof of vaccination requirements to a wider range of venues and to apply state-wide. pic.twitter.com/fxLHmMI2iz

— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) January 13, 2022

VACCINE MANDATES

The WA government has mandated vaccines for critical businesses, which make up the majority of the state’s workforce.

Group one – who had to be fully vaccinated by December 31 – included workers vital for community safety, such as nurses and aged care workers, or at high risk, such as border security officers.

Group two, who are considered critical to the economy and community, must now also be vaccinated.

They include workers in:

• Childcare centres;
• Supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, and fruit and vegetable stores;
• Food trucks, fast-food outlets;
• Hotels, caravan parks and camping grounds;
  
• Petrol stations;
• Post offices; and
• Veterinary clinics.

Workers must also receive a booster dose within one month of becoming eligible.

More information about vaccine mandates can be found here.

A heap of Covid-19 changes come into effect today. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

BACK TO SCHOOL

All secondary school students in the Perth, Peel, Great Southern, South West and Wheatbelt regions must wear masks indoors.

When WA records a higher number of cases – with that threshold yet to be defined by the state government – masks may also be required for primary school students from year 3 and above.

Students do not have to be vaccinated to attend school, but their teachers and other school staff must have had at least two jabs.

If you are dropping off or picking up your child, or entering a classroom, you do not need to show proof of vaccination.

You must be fully vaccinated to volunteer more than one day per week, but anyone attending a school event or a parent-teacher interview does not need to show proof of vaccination.

If a child tests positive for Covid-19, the whole class will be required to isolate for two weeks.

There is also a possibility their school may be closed down while contacts are identified.

Chief health officer Andy Robertson will tweak these rules over time as the virus numbers pick up in WA.

Originally published as Anti-vaxxers protest after being locked out of WA venues as Covid-19 changes come into effect