Mr Hancock did say this, but it was not until 23 March 2020 that Boris Johnson told the country that people 'must' stay at home and certain businesses must close. Professor Clements said there was also an element of luck in that WA was isolated and not an international travel hub, but good management could be seen in the swift action by authorities: "the government went hard and I think that was the right thing to do". A man in his 30s had not travelled overseas but did travel outside of the ACT. Those already in quarantine were not charged, nor those who purchased flights and had a confirmed international arrival date before 11:59 p.m. 12 July 2020 AEST. WA has had at least six people breach the states quarantine measures, although none were infected with coronavirus at the time. [5][6] He died on 1 March, becoming the first death due to COVID-19 in Western Australia. [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. The first human case of COVID-19 in Australia was identified in Melbourne in January 2020. 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 . Internal travel restrictions reduced from 13 regions to 4. Peter Dutton the Home Affairs Minister for Australia was diagnosed in Queensland. [20][21], On 8 March, an 82-year-old man died, becoming the second death at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged-care facility and the third death in the country. [35] In response to the lockdown, Air New Zealand canceled a flight between Auckland and Perth. "[25], On 12 March, the ACT announced its first case, the 142nd case in Australia. [112] The same day restrictions were re-tightened in Victoria, the Western Australian Government announced the state would move into "Phase 4" from 27 June, permitting some of the most relaxed restrictions in the country. The Perth and Peel restrictions have ended as planned from 12.01am, Sunday, 14 February. [1], On 25 January, the first case of a SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported, that of a Chinese citizen who arrived from Guangzhou on 19 January. China accounted for 3000 of the deaths at the time. [64], On 18 February, it was announced the border would reopen on 3 March for people from outside Australia and triple vaccinated people from interstate. As per WA State Government Advice, the Perth and Peel lockdown will end as scheduled at midnight tonight (12:01am Saturday 3 July). But as the outbreak has spread around the world, it has become more . Phase One: 27 April. [14], MVArtania departed Fremantle on 18 April following a standoff with state and federal governments over responsibility for the care of passengers and crew. [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. [47] Measures included mandatory mask wearing on public transport and indoors, re-introduction of the 2-square-metre rule for public venues, and limits on gatherings. I don't have any criticism for what they've done.". This followed some cases of coronavirus in Victoria being linked by DNA sequencing to a breach in hotel quarantine infection control. Perth was deserted as social distancing measures took hold. [138], On 1 August, the 2020 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election, deferred from 30 May, took place. All non-essential City of Perth services will be closed during this time. 2020 (Image: Steve . [8], Twenty-four Australians were infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship with eight being sent to Darwin for two weeks of quarantine. Western Australians must continue to wear masks in public at indoor . Perth and Peel residents will be allowed to leave their homes on Saturday, after being locked down for four days. [131], On 18 July, it was announced that a sitting of Federal Parliament, scheduled for the first 2 weeks of August, had been cancelled. More than 400 people were arrested and nearly 400 penalties issued. [90] By 8 May, the cluster of cases linked to Cedar Meats in Victoria was 71, consisting of at least 57 workers and 13 close contacts, including a nurse, aged care worker and high school student. This was the Territory's first new COVID-19 case in more than a month, with the last reported case being on 4 May. There are currently 14 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Perth metropolitan hospitals, with six in ICU. Parliament was rescheduled to return on 24 August. 10 Christmas party raged on December 18, 2020, less than 24 hours before Boris Johnson raised Covid lockdown measures to Tier 4 and ordered everyone to remain local The day before, at 3pm, it was announced that 2,315 of the 5,687 confirmed coronavirus cases had recovered. one-way street in the downtown area of Perth Amboy and headed toward "the heart of town." The detective was in a marked patrol car and in full uniform. The Prime Minister tells people they must stay at home, and should only leave for essential reasons such as buying food and exercising once per day. ", "First WA coronavirus case flown to Perth for treatment after evacuating Diamond Princess ship", "Agency Advisory #3 COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease)", "WA confirms first novel Coronavirus death", "Coronavirus quarantine rule prompts WA threat of $50,000 penalty as panic buying intensifies", "Western Australia, South Australia to close borders in response to coronavirus pandemic", "New COVID-19 restrictions on travel within WA as big queues form on WA/SA border ahead of closure - ABC News", "Kimberley coronavirus case spike sees shire borders closed to protect the vulnerable from COVID-19", "Coronavirus sees WA close its borders from midnight on Sunday to stop COVID-19 spread from eastern states", "No new coronavirus COVID-19 cases in WA for the first time in more than five weeks", "Artania cruise ship leaves Fremantle after fatal coronavirus outbreak on board", "WA eases coronavirus restrictions to allow 10-person gatherings", "Premier reveals restaurants, regional borders to reopen", "WA unlocked to travellers as almost all regional restrictions set to end for long weekend", "One in four metre square rule set to be scrapped in WA next weekend", "WA eases restrictions as NSW residents urged to avoid travel to Melbourne as it happened", "WA bars, cafes, restaurants and festivals to return to 100 per cent capacity", "Complacency blamed as WA's phase five restrictions pushed back to August", "Phase 5 restrictions in WA delayed by weeks", "Easing of coronavirus restrictions delayed as WA remains on 'high alert' due to Victorian outbreak", "Perth Royal Show axed as WA's coronavirus phase 5 restrictions pushed back by two months", "Coronavirus crisis: Mark McGowan reveals delay to phase five restrictions due to outbreak threat", "WA venues to adopt mandatory contact register from December 5 amid coronavirus risk", "COVID lockdown announced for Perth and South West after quarantine hotel worker tests positive", "NSW orders West Australian arrivals into five-day lockdown to stop spread of virulent UK strain", "States begin responding to WA coronavirus case, Queensland, NT, Vic, ACT declare affected region a hotspot", "WA Premier says masks will remain compulsory in Perth despite lack of new COVID-19 cases", "Masks off as COVID-19 restrictions lift in Perth, Peel regions amid no new cases", "WA coronavirus lockdown ends, Premier Mark McGowan unveils $43m package to help small businesses", "Perth lockdown for three days will see Anzac Day services cancelled, residents urged to stay indoors", "Lockdown ends in Perth and Peel as no new community cases recorded", "Trans-Tasman bubble: Travel paused between New Zealand and Western Australia due to Covid-19 outbreak", "Hotel security guard, household members test positive to COVID-19 in WA", "Western Australia regions of Perth and Peel face nervous wait as Premier Mark McGowan flags possible lockdown", "WA Premier Mark McGowan announced new restrictions as COVID cases climb", "Police access SafeWA app data for murder investigation, prompting urgent law change", "WA to move to phase five of COVID-19 plan as hospitality restrictions removed", "State-by-state travel restrictions as NSW outbreak grows", "WA Health authorities report woman's death in hospital, vaccine history sent to TGA", "COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report - 08-07-2021 @ Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)", "NSW woman's blood clot death linked to AstraZeneca vaccine", "Restrictions imposed on Perth, Peel region after woman tests positive for COVID-19 after NSW trip", "Perth and Peel plunged into lockdown after another local coronavirus case detected", "How life will change on WA border open date, when a raft of COVID restrictions will take effect", "Western Australia to reopen border on 5 February after almost two years sealed off from the world", "Mark McGowan delays WA border reopening indefinitely over Omicron fears", "WA records one new local case of COVID-19 following Perth Mess Hall rave", "Eased public health measures from 6am, Tuesday 4 January", "WA mask mandate extended in wake of growing backpacker COVID-19 cluster", "Tasmania and ACT elevated to high risk under WA's controlled border", "COVID-19 coronavirus: Controlled border", "Masks reintroduced as WA records five new local COVID-19 cases amid Omicron spread in Perth", "Mask mandate extended to South-West as doctors call for stricter restrictions to tackle Omicron", "Premier Mark McGowan announces delay to WA border opening amid fears Omicron will 'cripple' state", "WA records 10 new COVID-19 cases, but testing numbers plunge on Australia Day public holiday", "WA border opening date is March 3, as Mark McGowan announces new COVID restrictions", "WA COVID state of emergency laws pass first hurdle after bitter debate", "WA's COVID-induced state of emergency is ending. [142], Scott Morrison withdrew support of Clive Palmer's legal challenge to WA border entry restrictions on 2August after receiving a public backlash against his previously supportive stance. The COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. [92] By 18 May, this had increased to 12 cases, and on that day it was revealed that a delivery driver had tested positive, prompting the closing for cleaning of 12 more McDonald's locations: Melton East, Laverton North, Yallambie, Taylors Lakes, Campbellfield, Sunbury, Hoppers Crossing, Riverdale Village, Sandown, Calder Highway Northbound/Outbound, Calder Highway Southbound/Inbound, and BP Rockbank Service Centre Outbound. [41], On 18 March,[42] a human biosecurity emergency was declared[43] by the Governor-General of Australia, David Hurley, under Section 475 of the Biosecurity Act 2015. [196], By 20 December 30 new cases were reported in Sydney, with 28 being linked to the Avalon RSL club and Avalon bowling club within the Northern Beaches cluster. [70], On 2 April, the number of cases in Victoria exceeded 1,000, including over 100 healthcare workers. Metropolitan Perth and the Peel region will go into a three-day lockdown from midnight on Friday after a hotel quarantine outbreak led to community transmission. [8], From 16 March, a range of restrictions were put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. Two of his seven housemates, both food delivery drivers, then tested positive. Lockdown extended across the nation until 3 May, with a conditional relaxation after 20 April for the regions where the spread has been contained. A timeline of COVID-19 in Western Australia - ABC News VIDEO: A timeline of COVID-19 in Western Australia Posted Thu 31 Dec 2020 at 3:38am Watch 4m 23s Share A year-in-review look at Western Australia's experience with coronavirus in 2020. [178][179], On 16 November South Australia reintroduced "a number of significant restrictions" after an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. [36] ANZAC Day commemorations inside the lockdown area (which were anticipated to go ahead with caps on attendance) were cancelled and people were encouraged to participate in driveway dawn services, as was the case in 2020. [36], On 1 May 2021, a guard at the Pan Pacific quarantine hotel in Perth, tested positive to COVID-19. WA has since moved to tighten its hotel quarantine infection control measures, and has enlisted the Australian Defence Force for additional support. The clinic was closed over the weekend and patients were contacted to self-isolate. [175][176], On 3 November in Melbourne there was an anti-lockdown protest. However, the arrangement was not reciprocal Australian travellers still had to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in New Zealand. The pickers arrived on a chartered aircraft, and had to undergo the usual 14-day quarantine. [161], The 2020 Federal Budget, due to be delivered in May but delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, is delivered on 6 October. [57], As of 12.01am on 3 January, WA declared Tasmania and the ACT to be "high risk" locations. In a statement, David Walsh stated "I know that [the cancellation] will murder an already massacred tourism environment, but I feel like I have no choice. The Department of Health has reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, bringing the State's total to 278. . The remaining 10 per cent was linked to another similar breach at the Stamford Plaza. Non-contact recreational activities such as private picnics in the park, fishing . Fri, 23 April 2021 3:19PM. [58][59] From 12pm on this day, Australia required that Australian citizens and permanent residents seek exemptions to leave the country. There will be exemptions for health, emergency, defence and policing personnel. [200], Also on 21 December, the Victorian hotel quarantine inquiry published it final report. WA to enter three-day snap . [143], On 7 August, an easing of internal WA restrictions was deferred to at least 29August due to an outbreak in Victoria. New arrivals from WA had to have a COVID-19 test within 48 hours, or undergo 14 days of quarantine. A week before each roadmap stage, the government will decide whether restrictions can be lifted. [61] The state's first dose COVID vaccination rate was 95.3%, second dose of 87.9% for those aged 12+, and booster doses 21.9% for ages 16+. [4], Western Australia confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on 21 February 2020, a man who was evacuated off the Diamond Princess cruise ship and flown to Darwin. Gatherings of up to 20 people permitted. [31] This brought the Victorian total to 36 and the national total to 175. [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. The lockdown began on 16 March 2020, when Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that all unnecessary social contact should cease. [186] In early 2021 the Festival was cancelled entirely. [122], On 4 July, the Victorian Government announced an additional two postcodes affected by the lockdown until 29July 2020. [27][28], Later that day, an initial $17.6billion stimulus package was unveiled by the Prime Minister to "protect Australians' health, secure jobs and set the economy to bounce back" from the crisis. On 1 March, Australia reported the first death from COVID-19: a 78-year-old Perth man, who was one of the passengers from Diamond Princess, and who had been evacuated and was being treated in Western Australia. [2] On 11 April, Western Australia recorded its last case of unknown community transmission for 2020. [87] However, on 4 May there was a one new case, a young woman who acquired the virus overseas. Since eliminating community transmission, the state government has taken the lead from the federal government in honing WA's protective measures, including tightening WA's border closure with Victoria and New South Wales following a second wave of infections, and introducing new measures to test those in hotel quarantine and truck drivers, who pose the highest threat of reinfection. [12], On 29 February, after a Queensland case of an infected person returning to Australia from Iran, the government extended the enforced quarantine to people who had been in Iran, requiring them to spend a fortnight in a third country before being allowed into Australia. When the first case arrived in WA on February 21, the state was already in a strong position to tackle it through its geographical isolation from COVID-ravaged countries and its lack of international visitors. A snap three-day COVID-19 lockdown is set to end Monday in the Australian city of Perth .