WA lockdown 2021: All the restrictions announced

The Perth metropolitan area will be locked down for the next five days. Here are all the new rules, including what will be open and closed.

The whole Perth metropolitan area, the Peel region and the South-West region of Western Australia will be going into full lockdown for the next five days, it was announced today by Premier Mark McGowan.

The lockdown will begin at 6pm tonight (AWST) and will last until 6pm (AWST) on Friday, February 5.

It comes after a hotel quarantine worker from the Sheraton Four Points hotel in Perth tested positive for COVID-19. The man worked on the same floor as a returned traveller who had a positive case of the highly contagious UK variant of coronavirus.

Here are the restrictions that will be in place for the next five days.

Stay at home: People in the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel region and the South-West region are required to stay home.

They are only allowed to leave their homes for four reasons:

• Shopping for essentials like groceries

• Medical or healthcare needs (including looking after the vulnerable)

• Exercise (only for one hour within their neighbourhood with one other person)

• Work (if you cannot work from home)

Premier Mark McGowan. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Visitors: No visitors will be allowed to your homes unless you are caring for someone who is vulnerable. No visitors will be allowed in aged care homes (unless there are exceptional circumstances). No visitors to hospitals will be allowed.

Elective surgeries: Elective surgery and procedures for categories two and three will be suspended from Tuesday, February .2. Category 1 and urgent Category 2 surgery will continue.

Masks: Masks are mandatory outside of the home and on public transport

Schools: Many students were set to return to school tomorrow but that won’t be the case now. Schools will be closed until the end of the lockdown with Mr McGowan saying: “It is in effect an extension of the school holidays.”

Weddings: All weddings are cancelled for the next five days

Funerals: 10 people can attend funerals

What will be shut: Pubs, bars and clubs will shut. So too will gyms and indoor sporting venues. Playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor recreational facilities with be closed. Cinemas, entertainment venues and casinos will also be shut. Places of worships will close as will libraries and cultural institutions.

Supermarkets: Supermarkets will remain open with Mr McGowan saying: “Leaving your home to purchase food and essentials will be permitted during lockdown”.

Restaurants and cafes: They can provide a takeaway service only.