WA government finally dumps controversial Covid-19 rule
Western Australia will finally dump one of its most controversial Covid-19 mandates, with Premier Mark McGowan declaring the new Omicron peak has passed.
WA News
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Controversial vaccine mandates will finally be scrapped in Western Australia for most workforces, with Premier Mark McGowan declaring the new Omicron wave has passed its peak.
From June 10, only people working with the most vulnerable will be required to be triple dose vaccinated.
They include health workers in hospitals and primary health care settings, workers in residential aged care and workers in residential disability settings.
Vaccine requirements for all other workforces will be dumped.
About 500 public sector employees, separate to those who had quit or been fired, will now be contacted by their employer to work out the next steps for them.
The mandatory vaccination policy was introduced in December last year in a phased approach.
Mr McGowan said it had been extremely effective in protecting WA and helping achieve the nation’s highest vaccination rate.
WA has a third dose vaccination rate of 81.8 per cent among people aged 16 and over.
The Premier also revealed – effective immediately – returning unvaccinated Australians and permanent residents were no longer required to quarantine for seven days.
It means the current weekly cap of 70 unvaccinated international arrivals no longer applies.
Unvaccinated non-Australians cannot enter Australia under Commonwealth orders.
From June 15, directions to restrict access to remote Aboriginal communities will also be ditched.
It comes as WA recorded 8452 new infections overnight, taking the total number of active cases to 50,668.
There are now 298 people with Covid-19 in hospital, including eight in intensive care.
One death, dating back to May 27, was also reported to WA Health yesterday – a woman aged in her 70s.
Originally published as WA government finally dumps controversial Covid-19 rule
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