WA Premier Mark McGowan says the state will return to pre-lockdown conditions on Monday, with capacity limits removed and masks not required.
Key points:
- Restrictions across WA will be removed as planned on Monday
- There will be no mask mandate or crowd limits, major events to return
- Support grants of $3,000 offered to small businesses hit by the lockdown
It comes after the state recorded no new cases of coronavirus overnight.
"Our plan worked and the reason it worked was because we acted quickly and WA did the right thing," Mr McGowan said.
"We are now on track to get life back to normal."
From Monday morning, there will be no mask mandate, capacity or crowd limits, service restrictions or restrictions on visits to loved ones in aged care facilities and hospitals.
WA will see the return of major events and live performance.
"In short, WA is about to snap back to the life we love, a community that is open and free and most importantly, safe," Mr McGowan said.
Helping hand for small businesses
The West Australian Government will offer $3,000 support grants to small businesses badly affected by the recent four-day lockdown and restrictions.
After the previous lockdown, over the ANZAC day long weekend in April, grants of $2,000 were offered.
ABC News: Andrew O'Connor
)Premier Mark McGowan explained why it had been increased this time.
"This reflects the fact this lockdown lasted four days and occurred during the working week," he told a media conference.
Businesses in regional WA will also be eligible for the support grants.
Across Perth and the Peel region, 15,400 businesses could be eligible, and 2,300 in regional areas.
They include businesses in hospitality, tourism, catering, fitness, hair and beauty, the creative and performing arts and others.
Grant falls short of peak body's request
The WA Chamber and Commerce and Industry (CCI) had called for businesses that declared a lost turnover between 30-50 per cent to receive a $4,000 compensation payment, and for those that declared a lost turnover above 50 per cent to get $6,000.
Mr McGowan defended the $3,000 grants.
"On a per-day-basis of lockdown, it has been more generous than those put in place in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland."
About $41 million has been set aside for the scheme.
"We understand $3,000 will not cover every cost for every business, but it will provide some significant cashflow assistance," Mr McGowan said.
He has also written to the Commonwealth asking for support for casual workers who lost shifts.
The federal government provides disaster relief payments when there is a seven-day lockdown or more.
Mr McGowan said changes to the rules for support payments to workers in New South Wales showed the rules were not set in stone.
Even harder border with NSW on the cards
Mr McGowan said with a new record number of COVID-19 cases in NSW, the police commissioner would look at whether border restrictions can be tightened even further.
The border is currently closed, and anyone given an exemption must self-quarantine for 14 days.
Meanwhile WA returned Victoria to a very low risk classification today, meaning for the first time in six weeks, there is quarantine-free travel between the two states.
Mr McGowan also confirmed genomic sequencing showed the crew member taken off the MV Emerald Indah yesterday had the Delta strain of the virus.
Of his 55 casual contacts, 46 have returned a negative test result.
The crew member is in isolation at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in a stable condition.
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WA to return to pre-lockdown life after no new local cases of COVID-19 recorded overnight - ABC News
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