Checkpoints around Perth, no new cases reported on day one of lockdown

Police have set up checkpoints in the Perth and Peel regions as the Western Australian Government imposes a snap three-day lockdown.

Police have set up checkpoints around Perth and Peel, restricting travel between the regions after a strict lockdown was announced on Friday.

Only people with valid permits — essential workers, frontline staff and people returning home — are allowed to move between those areas.

The checkpoints were set up just after midnight when the lockdown in Perth and Peel began.

Western Australia recorded no new community cases of COVID-19 on the first day of lockdown, the state’s premier confirmed.

RELATED: 18 NSW suburbs on alert after virus find

People can be seen wearing masks after the West Australian Government issued mandatory mask wearing from 6pm. Picture: Getty Images

Meanwhile the Australian Medical Association has warned the lockdown could be extended.

AMA president Omar Korshid said the length of the Perth lockdown would depend on how many people returned positive coronavirus tests in coming days.

“Presumably the person in the hotel who has spread it to other people was one of those superspreaders, but whether this chap who was out and about in Perth for five days is someone who produces large amounts of virus and spreads it to the community - we just don’t know yet,” he told the ABC.

“The government needs to assume he was and get the contact tracing done which hopefully will be completed over the weekend.”

Coronavirus restrictions in Perth and Peel

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan announced the snap three-day lockdown on Friday.

Masks become mandatory for people aged over 12 in Perth and Peel from 6pm Friday.

Exemptions apply for people at home, during vigorous outdoor exercise, while in a vehicle with members of your household and for people with disabilities.

From 12.01am on Saturday, people have been ordered to stay at home.

There are exceptions for those who cannot work remotely as well as for people leaving home to purchase essential goods including food, groceries, and medical supplies.

WA Premier Mark McGowan speaks to media at Dumas House on April 23. Picture: Getty Images

People are also allowed outside for one hour per day for exercise as well as for medical and health care purposes, including looking after the vulnerable.

Private gatherings are not permitted and hospitality venues have been restricted to takeaway purchases only.

Nightclubs, casinos, entertainment venues, playgrounds, skate parks, religious gatherings/places of worship have been ordered to close.

Community sport has been cancelled, although major sports events have been allowed to proceed without crowds.

ANZAC Day events have been cancelled, with driveway dawn services encouraged.

Weddings and funerals can proceed with a maximum of 100 guests, with masks mandatory.

Perth has been thrown into a snap three-day lockdown. Picture: Getty Images

Why Perth is in lockdown

The announcement of a lockdown comes after an outbreak in Perth’s hotel quarantine system,

with a Victorian man testing positive in Melbourne on Friday after completing 14 days of quarantine a WA hotel.

A pregnant woman and her four-year-old daughter also tested positive after their stay, having contracted the virus from an infected couple who had returned from India and were staying a room opposite them.

States react to WA lockdown

Other states in Australia have reacted to the Perth lockdown by imposing new restrictions.

In NSW, those arriving into Sydney from WA must complete a declaration form, available from Service NSW’s website, which confirms they have not attended a venue of concern.

Passengers who have been to any of the locations of concern listed by the Western Australian government will be told to immediately be tested and self-isolate.

Other passengers should isolate until Perth’s lockdown is completed on Tuesday.

The Queensland government has said anyone in the state who has been in the Perth or Peel regions since April 17 must get tested, self-isolate and comply with WA’s lockdown restrictions.

They will have to remain in self-isolation, either at home or arranged accommodation, until 2am on April 27 or as announced by the WA government.

South Australia said anyone who visited any of the locations listed on the Western Australia Department of Health website at the specified date and time should get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible and isolate until they get a negative result. They should also get tested again on day 5 and day 13.

The Northern Territory said people arriving from the Perth and Peel regions from midnight will have to go into mandatory quarantine.

New Zealand flights axed

Flights between New Zealand and Western Australia have been put on pause pending further advice from the WA government.

A flight due to leave Perth for Auckland tonight has been cancelled following the announcement of the three-day lockdown, and there will be no flights tomorrow.

“Air New Zealand flight NZ176 from Perth to Auckland this evening has been cancelled due to the three-day lockdown in Western Australia,” an Air NZ spokesman said.

“Customers are being given the option to rebook, put their flight into credit, or receive a refund if they have purchased a refundable ticket.

“There are no Air New Zealand services to or from Perth tomorrow. We expect to be able to provide further clarity on the impact to Sunday’s return service tomorrow afternoon.”

– additional reporting Lauren McMah and Natalie Brown