[11] Within the Kimberley region, movement was further restricted to prevent travel between each of the four local government areas. [38][39][40], In mid-June, there was controversy when the Western Australia Police accessed data from the SafeWA contact tracing app as part of a murder investigation. [28], On 31 January 2021, a quarantine hotel security guard at the Four Points by Sheraton in Perth tested positive. The doctor in his 70s had returned to Australia from the United States on 29 February. The changes were introduced in the first two weeks of the pandemic, when more than 75 per cent of WAs 278 cases were directly linked to overseas travel or cruise ships, and there was little evidence of transmission chains in the community. This is encouraging news," said Premier Mark McGowan. [29] West Australian health minister Roger Cook has informed the public that the Western Australian Department of health is postponing upgrades at Peel Health Campus to accommodate patients with the virus. Passengers were given an information sheet and asked to present themselves if they had a fever or suspect they might have the disease. From 11.59pm on 27October, people no longer required a reason to leave home, all retail, restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars were allowed to open with capacity limits, beauty, personal services and tattooing will reopen, outdoor community sport for under 18 and outdoor non-contact sport for adults recommenced, a maximum of 10 people were allowed to attend weddings, a maximum of 20 mourners allowed to attend funerals and faith and religious gatherings allowed to resume, subject to patron limitations. The COVID-19 lockdown has transformed Perth's CBD and restrictions are set to be eased cautiously. Phase 2 will focus on encouraging Western Australians to return to work, unless they are unwell or vulnerable, so the WA economy can further rebuild in a safe and measured way. Nonetheless, on August 14, WA introduced mandatory masks and testing for truck drivers. By the time WA emerged from its toughest period of restrictions, which lasted between March 29 and April 28, it had unknowingly eliminated community transmission of the virus after previously recording 16 cases of unknown transmission. WA lockdown over but masks and other restrictions remain. The major change that the legislation will bring about is that the Emergency Services Minister will no longer be involvedas they have had to extend the state of emergency every fortnightand that the police commissioner will be able to give themselves emergency powers if they are satisfied that COVID is, or imminently will be, "of such a nature or magnitude that it requires a coordinated response" and that "There is a need to exercise powers to prevent or minimise loss of life, prejudice to the safety, or harm to the health, of persons. Perth and Peel COVID19 4 Day lockdown Based on health advice, Premier McGowan announced that effective from 12.01am Tuesday 29 June 2021 until 12.01am Saturday 3 July 2021 the Perth metropolitan area and the Peel region will enter a 4-day lockdown. Police officers were placed in the area for a "show of presence" due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Legislation was introduced to the WA Parliament on 15 June to make such access illegal. Boris Johnson has publicly spoken out about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal; ministers briefly considered ordering all domestic cats in Britain to be killed during COVID, a former health . Ireland has been in lockdown for nearly six weeks now but as of May 5, . [67] The JobKeeper program would pay employers up to $1500 a fortnight per full-time, part-time or casual employee that has worked for that business for over a year, if the business fits criteria involving a loss of turnover as a result of the pandemic. [4][5][6], Nine cases were recorded in January. [65], On 21 September, the Emergency Management Amendment (Temporary COVID-19 Provisions) Bill 2022 passed the lower house of the WA Parliament after a debate that finished at midnight. Schools were prevented from organising gatherings of over 500, including swimming and sports carnivals, interschool carnivals, performances, concerts, exhibitions, fetes and fairs. Perth, Australia, on Monday, the first full day of its lockdown. [36], On 1 May 2021, a guard at the Pan Pacific quarantine hotel in Perth, tested positive to COVID-19. Wednesday 23 March will mark two years since Boris Johnson announced the first lockdown, as coronavirus surged through the UK.. On the first year anniversary, all four UK nations found themselves . [2] On 18 March, indoor gatherings of over 100 people were banned. [citation needed], In late September a report from Ernst & Young stated that pandemic related border restrictions could result in a shortfall of 26,000 farm workers to pick fruit and vegetables over Australia's summer harvest season. In addition, the State of Emergency in Victoria was extended until 11:59 p.m. on 16 August 2020. One result was that AFL spectators were not allowed at the Western AFL Derby on May 2 at Optus Stadium. New South Wales health authorities asked all passengers to go into self-isolation. "[106], By 26 May, Australia's first human trials of a candidate COVID-19 vaccine, Novavax's NVX-CoV2373, began in Melbourne. [69], On 1 April, the Western Australian State Government introduced intrastate travel restriction, limiting movements between the regions of Western Australia. Richard Wainwright/EPA, via Shutterstock By Damien Cave Published Feb. 1, 2021 Updated Sept. 23, 2021 SYDNEY, Australia One. On the same day, regional Victoria moved from Stage Three restrictions to the Second Step of the roadmap, which enabled up to five people to gather together in outdoor public places from a maximum of two households, the reopening of outdoor pools and playgrounds, as well as allowing religious services to be conducted outside with a maximum of five people, plus a faith leader. Perth was deserted as social distancing measures took hold. [140] The increased restrictions included a curfew across Melbourne from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting immediately,[141] while other changes that took effect from 8 August were that abattoir production was reduced by a third and poultry production by one fifth to allow for reduced worker numbers. Australia's largest city, Sydney, has emerged from Covid lockdown after almost four months, with locals celebrating a range of new freedoms. This article documents the chronology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia during 2020. [39][40] It is not known how the guard became infected, but they worked at the hotel on 24, 25 and 26 April, including on the same floor as two returned travellers who were COVID-19 positive. It was announced on 20March that three of 13passengers had tested positive for the coronavirus. [2] On 19 April, Western Australia recorded no new cases of COVID-19 for the first time in over a month. [65] As of 31 March 2020, five of them had died, one in the Australian Capital Territory, two in Tasmania, one in New South Wales and one in Queensland. I don't have any criticism for what they've done.". Meanwhile in South Australia, which has also eliminated unknown community transmission of the virus, a Victorian truck driver staying in a border town hotel caused a small outbreak after testing positive to COVID-19 on July 30. The two cases were in New South Wales: one was acquired from a close relative and the other was a health care worker in Western Sydney. [42], Also on 18 March, the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas docked in Sydney and discharged about 3,500 passengers. [119] Andrews noted that "it is abundantly clear that what has gone on here is completely unacceptable and we need to know exactly what has happened. Perth and the outer-metropolitan Peel region are plunged into a three-day lockdown after a traveller spent five days in the community while infectious, after completing 14 days of hotel quarantine. Fri, 23 April 2021 3:19PM. [8], Twenty-four Australians were infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship with eight being sent to Darwin for two weeks of quarantine. [30] (ABC News: Gian De Poloni) "There are a number of interrelated effects, but it ultimately all comes back mainly to those necessary restrictions that governments have put in place to protect the broader community," he said. [34], On 23 April 2021, due to an asymptomatic returned traveller who tested positive after completing 14 days of hotel quarantine and subsequently went into the community, a lockdown from 12:01 am on 24 April to 12:01 am on 27 April was declared for the Perth and Peel regions. [102], On 19 May, in New South Wales, another resident of Newmarch House nursing home died from coronavirus. In addition, the state government during a critically timed month-long soft lockdown in WA in April also closed the regional and state borders, shut schools a week early and ordered interstate travellers to self-isolate on arrival. Home opens and display village openings, with appropriate record keeping and hygiene practices in . [130], On 12 July, the free Federally funded childcare introduced on 2 April 2020[72] ended, and the Federal Child Care Subsidy was reintroduced. [183], On 27 November, Victoria recorded 28 consecutive days without recording any new COVID-19 infections or deaths; 28 days is considered to be the benchmark for eliminating COVID-19 from the community. lockdown in the UK, ordering people to "stay at home" 26 March Lockdown measures legally come into force 25 March Coronavirus Act 2020 gets Royal Assent 16 March PM says "now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact and travel" 10 May PM announces a conditional plan for lifting lockdown, and says that people who cannot work Up to 10 guests were permitted at weddings, funerals could have up to 20 mourners indoors, 30 outdoors. [155], On 13 September, Melbourne moved from Stage Four to the First Step of the roadmap for reopening, which allowed for slightly reduced restrictions; such changes included the implementation of social bubbles which allowed those living alone or single parents to have one other person in their home, the reopening of playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment, libraries allowed to open for contactless click and collect, as well as a reduction of the curfew by an hour. Masks are mandatory from 6pm tonight, Friday 23 April 2021 for Perth and Peel residents. Learn. [91][92] The number had increased to 75 by 9 May,[93][92] 88 by 13 May,[94] and 90 by 14 May. A snap lockdown of the city of Perth due to a Covid-19 case in Western Australia's hotel-quarantine programme forced Cricket Australia into a last-minute shift of the Perth Scorchers' Big Bash . [194], By 19 December 23 new cases were reported in the Northern Beaches area. [36] The State of Emergency was subsequently extended[citation needed] (see below). Major sport and entertainment venues allowed 50% capacity. [139], On 2 August, a state of disaster was declared in Victoria from 6 p.m. that day, with the imposition of increased restrictions for at least six weeks; Metropolitan Melbourne moved to stage 4 restrictions and regional Victoria to stage 3 restrictions. Credit:Lauren Pilat. Here's how it will impact supermarket shelves", "Morrison drops Commonwealth involvement in Palmer's 'hard border' legal fight", "Easing of coronavirus restrictions delayed as WA remains on 'high alert' due to Victorian outbreak", "Cancellation of the 2020 National NAIDOC Awards and the 2020 Awards Ceremony", "Australian Wooden Boat Festival cancelled owing to pandemic", "Victoria coronavirus cases rise by 208, 17 more deaths bring national COVID-19 toll to 502", "Australia's First Recession in Decades Signals Tougher Times to Come", "Human Biosecurity Emergency Period Extended By Three Months", "Coronavirus (COVID-19) roadmap for reopening", "CACT Health launch contact tracing app to streamline process for business and patrons", "Coronavirus restrictions could lead to 26,000-person shortfall for coming harvests, report says", "Seasonal workers from Vanuatu have landed in Darwin, ready to pick mangoes", "2021 Summernats festival delayed to January 2022", "Summernats Rare Spares Rev Rock 'n' Roll event cancelled due to COVID-19 uncertainty", "Federal Budget 2020 reveals Australia headed to record debt of almost $1trillion", "What another Victoria State of Emergency and Disaster four-week extension means", "Victoria's State of Disaster and State of Emergency extended again", "COVID-19 virus can last almost a month on smartphones and ATMs, CSIRO finds", "Emotional scenes as first 'no-quarantine' flights arrive into Sydney under new trans-Tasman travel bubble", "Daniel Andrews eases Victoria's coronavirus restrictions on travel, outdoor gatherings, sport, hairdressers and auctions", "Coronavirus update for Victoria 24October 2020", "Coronavirus update for Victoria Monday 26October 2020", "Covid in Australia: Melbourne to exit 112-day lockdown", "Melbourne's coronavirus restrictions ease as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announces end to lockdown", "WA ends hard border policy, travellers from 'very low risk' jurisdictions to be allowed in", "What WA's COVID-19 border changes mean for travellers from every state and territory", "Coronavirus Australia live news: Australia records first day without a locally acquired COVID case since June", "Australia marks first 24 hours of no community coronavirus transmissions in almost five months", "Police arrest more than 400 demonstrators at Melbourne anti-lockdown protest", "All adults in NSW to get $100 vouchers as part of budget cash splash", "Coronavirus restrictions to be reintroduced in SA from midnight, but no cluster growth", "Covid: Pizza worker's 'lie' forced South Australia lockdown", "Canberrans get daily vouchers to spend on restaurants and shops", "There are no active COVID cases in Victoria, after the last coronavirus patient was released yesterday", "Victoria hits 28 days with no new coronavirus cases or deaths as Brett Sutton defends path to eradication", "After 28 days of zero new cases, has Victoria eliminated coronavirus? [22], On 9 March, the principal of Carey Baptist Grammar confirmed that one of the teachers at their Kew campus was infected with the virus. Perth and Peel will enter a 3-day lockdown from 12.01am Saturday 24 April 2021, based on health advice. He urged Palmer to withdraw. [2], On 24 March, the state borders were closed and all interstate arrivals were required to self-isolate for 14 days. Two of his seven housemates, both food delivery drivers, then tested positive. South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said that the government would be "looking very carefully at what consequences there are going to be", although South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said that the man would likely not face charges as there was "no penalty associated with telling lies". [26] Actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson advised that they had tested positive and were in isolation. Western Australia enters five-day lockdown from 6pm tonight Sunday, 31 January 2021 Fast evolving situation with a hotel quarantine worker testing COVID-19 positive Five-day lock down starting 6pm today (Sunday, January 31, 2021) until 6pm on Friday, February 5 for Perth, Peel and the South-West The doctor believed he only had a mild cold and was fit to return to work,[19] hitting back at the minister for her comments.