Hi , 
 

Thanks to the efforts of the WA community, public health and social measures will ease from 12:01am, Friday 29 April, as Western Australia’s soft landing through the Omicron wave has been secured. Based on the latest health advice, WA reached its COVID peak four weeks ago. With hospitalisation rates, intensive care units, and COVID-19 infections lower than anticipated, public health and social measures can safely ease.

The following will take effect from 12.01am, Friday 29 April:

MASKS

• No longer mandatory except for high risk settings for people aged 12 years and older (including year 7s) in the following settings:

  • on public transport, in taxis and rideshare vehicles and other passenger transport

  • airports

  • hospitals, residential aged care and disability service facilities, and correctional facilities.

  • Masks are encouraged where physical distancing isn’t possible.

CLOSE CONTACTS

• Close contacts with no symptoms are not required to isolate for 7 days, but must:
  • undertake a daily Rapid Antigen Test
  • wear a mask when leaving the house,
  • avoid high-risk settings, including hospitals, healthcare settings, disability and aged care facilities, and correctional facilities
  • work from home, where possible
  • avoid non-essential gatherings and contact with people at risk of severe illness
• They should also notify their employer/educational facility of their close contact status.
• Close contacts with symptoms must continue to isolate until symptoms resolve and get tested as per existing protocols.
• If a close contact tests positive, they must isolate for a further 7 days as per arrangements for positive COVID-19 cases.

DENSITY & CAPACITY LIMITS

• The 2 square metre rule removed for venues and businesses
• Capacity limits removed for all entertainment venues, stadiums and events

PROOF OF COVID19 VACCINATIONS

• No longer required to enter venues and businesses
• Still required to visit hospitals and residential aged care facilities
• Mandatory workplace vaccination requirements will remain in place.

TRAVEL

• G2G Pass registration no longer required
• Triple dose vaccination no longer required for interstate arrivals
• Double dose vaccination requirement for international arrivals will continue as per Australian Government requirements
• Unvaccinated Australian international arrivals to continue to quarantine for 7 days
• Travel to remote Aboriginal communities remains restricted.

HOSPITALS

• Two visitors permitted per patient per day
• Essential visitors are also allowed at hospitals for compassionate reasons, birth partners, carers/parents/guardians etc.
• Visitors are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations and wear a mask.

RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE & DISABILITY CARE FACILITIES

• Two visitors permitted per resident per day
• Masks must be worn by staff and visitors indoors and outdoors
• Visitors are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.

COVID SAFETY & EVENT PLANS

• No longer mandatory but still encouraged

SCHOOLS & EARLY CHILDCARE

• Remaining public health measures in place removed
• Some preventative measures retained in schools including enhanced ventilation, mandatory vaccination and cleaning
• 12 million free RATs provided to all schools and childcare facilities to distribute to parents and carers
• Parents and students will be encouraged to collect tests, to ensure they are ready to test their children if symptoms develop.

Page reviewed 26 April 2022 @ 
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/public-health-and-social-measures-ease-was-soft-landing-secured

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Optometry Western Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where our optometrists live and work and pays respect to the past, present and emerging Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.