Coronavirus: Western Australia sends everyone back to work

Western Australia is back to work tomorrow, with everyone encouraged to return to their offices. It will be a test case for the rest of Australia.

Western Australia has become the guinea pig of the nation, with life set to mostly return to normal as of tomorrow.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan announced his plan to end lockdown earlier this week, and phase two begins on Monday.

Other states watch on eagerly, wondering how it will go, and whether they should do the same.

Premier McGowan has already doubled the number of people allowed at non-work gatherings, coming in at a total of 20 — more than any other state.

Western Australians can also travel within their borders, after regional travel restrictions were removed.

And now, West Australians are being encouraged to return to work on Monday, unless they are unwell or vulnerable.

RELATED: Follow our live coronavirus updates here

RELATED: Chinese buyers return to Aussie markets

Commuters cram into a train in Perth before coronavirus hit.

SO WHAT’S BACK TO NORMAL IN WA?

WA restaurants are almost resembling their bustling former selves, with up to 20 people now allowed to dine in at a time.

Up to 20 people will also be allowed to attend indoor weddings and funerals while 30 can attend outdoor ceremonies.

Fitness classes are also set to resume and places of worship and pools can reopen as long as they adhere to social distancing guidelines.

The number of intrastate borders dropped from 13 to four, meaning holidays are back on the agenda.

You can now go ahead and book a hotel or Airbnb.

Perth-siders can go to the South West, Peel, Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions.

Travel is also allowed within the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Pilbara, and within the Goldfields-Esperance region.

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO RETURN TO WORK?

Workers are being encouraged to return to their offices on Monday, but not everyone is on the same page.

The government has advised people with pre-existing health issues and/or Australians over the age of 60 to continue working from home.

Some people want to keep working from home fearing for their safety or the safety of family members.

Safety Australia Group managing director Robert Kefthas been advising people to transition their employees back over weeks or months, rather than rushing in.

"One of the threats we have from a work health and safety perspective is that employers will be, I think, anxious to get back to operating as normal," he told the ABC.

With an office located in Perth’s CBD, accountancy firm Grant Thornton has decided it’s not worth the risk to return to work.

All employees will continue to work from home indefinitely.

RELATED: Can you refuse to return to work from the office?

RELATED: How to make the virus tracing app work properly

COVID-19 has forever changed the way that many people work.

SO WHAT’S STILL RESTRICTED IN WA?

The gaming floors of casinos remain closed.

The Kimberley remains out of bounds unless you live there, and travel to remote Aboriginal communities is still restricted. Likewise, Rottnest is also out of bounds, with the Premier confirming that’s it's going to remain a quarantine centre for now.

You still can't used shared equipment at gyms. Similarly, playgrounds and skate parks are still a no go.

You can't get your legs waxed, your nails done, have a massage or get a spray tan.

But beauty salons are allowed to open for the sale of retail products.

WHEN WILL PHASE THREE BEGIN?

Phase three will begin in June if all goes to plan, Mr McGowan said.

Playgrounds, skate parks, gyms, cinemas, zoos, galleries, museums and beauty salons could all be reopened.

It depends on how WA citizens responds to the other changes.