Number of Covid-19 active cases in Western Australia soars passed 5000 as new restrictions introduced

New restrictions will be introduced in Western Australia this week when the hard border comes down as Covid-19 cases soar.

A raft of tough new restrictions will come into place this week when Western Australia brings down its hard border, including a limit of 10 people for home gatherings.

As WA’s number of active cases soared passed 5000 on Monday, Premier Mark McGowan revealed the state was expected to reach its peak number of infections within the next two or three weeks.

“To help minimise the surge in hospitalisations and protect the broader community, WA will need to move to level two public health measures but they will be less severe than previously outlined thanks to WA’s high vaccination rate,” he told reporters.

From 12.01am on Thursday, the use of masks will be expanded to include anyone in Year 3 and above.

Hospitality, fitness and entertainment venues, as well as museums, galleries and places of worship will still have to maintain the 2 sqm rule but they will be capped at 150 patrons and seated service rules will apply.

Major stadiums and seated or forward-facing entertainment venues, such as theatres and cinemas, will be at 50 per cent capacity.

The Crown complex gaming floor will have the 4 sqm rule and seated service requirements, but other venues inside Crown will follow the 2 sqm rule and 150-patron capacity limit.

Nightclubs will have the 2 sqm rule with a capacity of 150 and seated service.

The 2 sqm rule will also apply for beauty salons and hairdressers.

This is our WA COVID-19 update for Monday, 28 February 2022.
For official information on COVID-19 in WA, visit https://t.co/gIGAhoXMnmhttps://t.co/7dPMQoUTgFpic.twitter.com/Isj0bRXlom

— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) February 28, 2022

Outdoor public events will have the 2 sqm rule and be capped at 500 patrons with masks, while outdoor private gatherings in public places will be limited to 50.

Higher education facilities will have the 2 sqm rule indoors and outdoors, with capacity limits of 150 people per lecture theatre.

Aged care and disability services will be restricted to two visitors per resident each day.

There will be no visitors to hospitals except for spouses, parents and carers, birth partners, or for other compassionate reasons.

Mr McGowan said the home gathering cap was being introduced because the virus often spread during those visits.

“We know from the experience around the country, that it is the home gatherings of families that cause the most spread of the virus,” he said.

“We know that many families are already doing the right thing and minimising contact, particularly protecting the most vulnerable in their family, which is so important.”

Mr McGowan said weddings and funerals in the outdoor area of a private home could have up to 150 people with a 2 sqm rule.

Weddings and funerals more generally must abide by the 2 sqm rule and be capped at 150.

“While we have avoided some of the tougher measures, this will still be an impact on many operators and on people’s lives, and for that I’m sorry,” Mr McGowan said.

The premier will announce a new round of financial assistance for businesses impacted by the measures later this week.

“These level two measures will only be in place for a short time — hopefully around four weeks — and they will be reviewed before the end of the month,” he said.

Premier Mark McGowan has announced new restrictions in WA. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Meanwhile, follow-up pathology testing in the Bidyadanga and Beagle Bay communities has given an all clear result.

Secondary PCR testing showed some did have respiratory virus infections, such as the flu and rhinovirus, but not Covid-19.

“All initial tests, carried out on a GeneXpert machine, indicated a positive result,” chief health officer Andy Robertson said.

“While it is unfortunate for the level of community concern and inconvenience, I would always prefer to react swiftly and take a precautionary approach rather than regret delayed action.”

It comes as WA Health reported a total of 1140 new cases overnight, including 1136 local infections and four related to travel.

It brings the state’s total number of active cases to 5540.

Among the new infections were 476 self-reported positive RATs.

There are 11 people in hospital but none are in intensive care.

Mr McGowan announced on Sunday that in an Australian first, more than one million households across the state would be provided with five RAT kits after registering online.

People were given the option of having the kits mailed in the post or picking them up at Perth Airport.

“Every West Australian deserves to have access to a rapid test, no matter who they are and no matter where they live across WA,” Mr McGowan said.

He revealed on Monday that there had been more than 400,000 registrations so far.

While many praised the scheme, multiple people also complained that they had received an email claiming their home address had already been registered.

Yesterday we announced every household in Western Australia will receive five free rapid antigen tests.

It’s an Australian first which will provide an initial 5.3 million free RATs to more than one million households across the State. pic.twitter.com/qXz6xwI0wQ

— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) February 28, 2022

One person wrote on social media: “Myself and two others all from separate households have received an email saying ‘Our records show the home address you have nominated has already registered for a free RAT kit’. I can see many others are having this issue too.”

Another person commented: “I tried to register for mine but I received an email that my address was already registered. It’s not. How can I register now for my free tests. Who do I call to fix this error. I know it’s happened to a few people.”

Another person said: “We just tried to register for our free RAT tests and someone else has already used our address to register for some. This is very disappointing and obviously a flaw in the system!”

Some people have also complained about receiving two or three confirmation emails from the state government.

A spokesperson for the premier said “an issue with the sequencing of emails” had led to some people receiving an “address claimed” notification.

“We are working through this issue and will advise if people need to reorder their kit,” a spokesperson said.

“Separate to this, an issue with the address validation process has, in some cases, resulted in duplication of emails going out.

“This issue does not mean those who have received multiple emails won’t receive a RAT via delivery or be able to collect their kit.

“If they have an order number, they will still receive a delivery or be able to collect their RAT.”

Every household will have access to five free RATs. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

People can register for their free RATs here.

They should allow for up to 15 business days for delivery from when they receive their confirmation email, with regional areas being prioritised initially.

Meanwhile, Mr McGowan’s chief of staff Daniel Pastorelli and Water Minister Dave Kelly were among 1021 local cases reported on Sunday.

“This morning I received a positive Covid PCR result,” Mr Kelly tweeted on Sunday.

“I will be working from home. I feel very fortunate to be in a country where vaccines are freely available. Many are not.

“Thanks again to our health workers and public sector staff who are getting us through the pandemic.”

KEY RESTRICTIONS COMING THIS WEEK:

• Home gatherings limited to 10 people;
• Weddings and funerals in the outdoor area of a private home can have up to 150 people with the 2 sqm rule;
  
• Masks for children in Years 3 to 6 added;
• Major venues such as Optus Stadium capped at 50 per cent; and
  
• Aged care and disability services will be restricted to two visitors per resident each day.