Masks, Proof Of Vaccination And Travel: A Guide To Living In Perth After February 5
Yesterday Western Australia finally learnt its date reopening to the rest of the country – and the world – following almost two years being mostly cut off thanks to our tight border restrictions.
Premier Mark McGowan detailed what that means for WA from February 5, 2022 in a lengthy press conference yesterday, and we’ve tried to run it down as simply as possible for your below, and please keep in mind these rules apply to people 12 and over:
MASKS
From February 5 masks will be required to be worn in high risk indoor settings including:
– Public transport, taxis or ride share services;
– At airports and on flights; and
– By visitors to hospitals, residential aged care, disability care or custodial corrections facilities.
Failure to comply could result in a $1000 fine.
There are also three key regions with lagging vaccination rates (Pilbara, Kimberley, Goldfields) who if haven’t reached an 80 per cent double dose vaccination (12 and over) by February 5 will:
– need proof of vaccination at pubs, bars, dine-in cafés and restaurants, bottle shops, indoor entertainment venues, gyms and fitness centres;
– be required to wear masks at all indoor public venues without a proof of vaccination entry requirement (such as supermarkets, roadhouses and takeaway services); and
– only be permitted into the region by air if they are double dose vaccinated.
TRAVEL
People can now come and go from WA both nationally and internationally, however there are plenty of requirements to meet before doing so (based on current health advice, and will undergo ongoing review including four weeks after February 5).
International arrivals (double dose vaccinated) will be required to:
– Return a negative PCR test result within 72 hours prior to departure; and
– Return a negative PCR test within 48 hours of arrival to WA and on day six.
There are no quarantine requirements for double dose arrivals, however unvaccinated arrivals will be required to quarantine for 14 days in a hotel or future quarantine facility.
Domestic arrivals must be double dose vaccinated unless ineligible/medically exempt, and will also undergo testing requirements:
– Interstate arrivals coming into WA or WA travellers leaving and returning on a trip that is six days or more will require a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure prior to travelling to WA, and undertake a negative PCR test within 48 hours of arrival;
– Interstate arrivals coming into WA for five days or less will require a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure but are not required to have any tests on arrival into WA; and
WA travellers who leave then return to WA within five days or less do not need a test before arriving back into the State, but they will require a PCR test within 48 hours of returning.
PROOF OF VACCINATION
Proof of vaccination for people 16 years and over will be required at:
– Venues or events with 1,000 or more patrons;
– Nightclubs;
– Crown complex; and
– Optus Stadium, RAC Arena, HBF Stadium and HBF Park
Other business can also choose to have proof of vaccination requirements to protect staff and patrons, and are urged to consider their individual circumstances and seek legal advice before adopting this requirement.
How to show proof of vaccination
The State Government is developing a new integrated mobile app making proof of vaccination, use of the SafeWA app and G2G registration, but in the meantime you can already obtain both a physical certificate or a digital certificate via MyGov, Medicare, My Health Record and Services Australia.
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Instructions on how to do so can be found HERE.
BOOSTER SHOTS
You may have heard in the news that the time between your last vaccine dose and booster shot had been brought forward from six months after to five months after. If you are eligible for a five month booster shot in WA, you will be notified by the government and are encouraged to get it as soon as possible.
You can do so for free via State-run clinics with no appointment or visiting registered GPs and chemists, and while a booster is not mandatory at this point, you’re strongly urged to do so to increase protection from COVID-19 and future variants.
Get more info on booster shots HERE.
Image: Shutterstock / Eden Nguyen