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West Australians can gather in groups of up to 100 people from June 6 as the state moves to phase three of relaxing coronavirus restrictions, with the “vast majority” of businesses affected by the lockdown permitted to reopen.

West Australians can gather in groups of up to 100 people from June 6 as the state moves to phase three of relaxing coronavirus restrictions, with the “vast majority” of businesses affected by the lockdown permitted to reopen.
Key points:

  • Indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people will be permitted
  • Up to 300 people will be allowed in some venues, subject to spacing rules
  • Galleries, beauty services, gyms, theatres and cinemas may reopen

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said non-work, indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed, a five-fold increase on the current 20 person limit.
“Phase three will allow Western Australians to enjoy more social and recreational activities and continue to get back to a more normal way of life,” Mr McGowan said.
“Up to 300 people will be permitted in some settings, like for indoor and outdoor venues, with multiple divided spaces with up to 100 people in each space.
“This is being referred to as the 100-300 rule.”
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The Premier said Western Australia would be the first state to move away from the one person per four square metres rule under phase three, replacing it with a one person per two square metres rule.
“[The rule] prevented a large number of businesses from opening,” Mr McGowan said.
“I hope it means many more businesses will be able to open and employ many more West Australians.”
All food businesses and licensed premises will be able to operate with seated service, and alcohol may be served without a meal.
Crown Casino in Perth has been closed due to coronavirus restrictions.(ABC News: Hugh Sando)
Food courts with seated service may open, while house and real estate auctions can also resume.
Mr McGowan said consultation was underway to work out how the gaming floor of Crown Casino could reopen in the future.
All businesses will be subject to the 100-300 rule when they reopen.
Junior sports restart will allow return to ‘normal life’
Beauty therapy, massage and personal care services will be permitted to reopen, along with galleries, theatres and concert venues.
Mr McGowan said TABs, wildlife and amusements parks, arcades, indoor play centres and Perth Zoo would also be allowed to open from next weekend.
WA COVID-19 snapshot

  • Confirmed cases so far: 585
  • Recovered: 550
  • Deaths: 9
  • Total tests: 85,738

Latest information from the WA Health Department
He confirmed the use of playgrounds, skateparks and outdoor gym equipment would be permitted too, along with full-contact sport and training.
“I know for many young kids getting back to junior sports is a big part of their normal life,” Mr McGowan said.
The Premier said gyms, health clubs and indoor sports centres could offer their normal range of activities including the use of all gym equipment.
“Gyms will need to be staffed at all times and undertake regular cleaning,” Mr McGowan added.
Under the major easing of restrictions parents and guardians will be once again allowed to enter schools grounds to drop off and pick up their children.
Rottnest Island will also be reopened to the general public after being used as a quarantine zone.
Popular holiday destination Rottnest Island will reopen to visitors, unless another outbreak requires it to be used again as a quarantine zone.(ABC News: West Matteeussen)
Mr McGowan said WA’s isolation, community response and hard border controls had allowed more flexibility to progress “further along on our roadmap”.
“It is these weapons that have allowed us to ease restrictions further than any other state in the past,” he said.
“Our next step will be significant and it will be challenging.
“But we must all continue to act responsibly and that means good physical distancing, where possible, and good personal hygiene.”
Eight new cases recorded overnight
Meanwhile, Western Australia recorded eight new COVID-19 cases overnight.
All of the cases were crew members aboard the livestock ship Al Kuwait, which is docked in Fremantle.
The Al Kuwait ship sits in dock at Fremantle Port.(ABC News: Evelyn Manfield)
It brings the total number of infected crew members to 20.
WA’s total number of COVID-19 cases is 585, with 25 active cases.
Health Minister Roger Cook said all 48 crew members had now been tested for the virus and the 10 members who remained on the ship had returned a negative result.
Mr Cook said one more person had recovered overnight, bringing the state’s total number of recovered cases to 551.
Mr McGowan said phase three decisions had been based on health advice and would be implemented despite the current spike in cases as a result of the Al Kuwait livestock ship outbreak.
“It’s important to note these cases are being controlled,” he said.
“It shouldn’t prevent us from continuing our journey to ease restrictions.”
Mr McGowan said phase three changes would be closely monitored, before further easing of restrictions including larger gatherings would be considered under phase four.
Opposition small business and tourism spokeswoman Alyssa Hayden said “common sense has prevailed” in response to the Government’s announcement.
“The icing on the cake now would be to open the Kimberley, including Broome, in time for their peak season,” Ms Hayden said.
“Businesses in Broome have been devastated by this crisis and if the region is not open to intrastate visitors soon, many of them will never recover.”
Hospital visiting rules eased
Restrictions on visiting hours at all WA public hospitals will be eased from next week, and the number of people allowed to visit will be increased to two people at a time.
People are still being told to avoid visiting hospital if they have travelled outside Australia.(ABC News: Andrew O’Connor)
From Tuesday, children will be allowed to visit hospitals, and maternity patients may be accompanied by two birthing partners.
All visitors will still be required to observe physical distancing.
Anyone who has tested positive to COVID-19 or has flu-like symptoms should not enter a hospital.
People are also being told to avoid visiting if they have travelled outside Australia or been in contact with a confirmed case.
COVID-19 testing clinics remain in place at WA hospitals like Royal Perth.(ABC News: James Carmody)
Open borders entice travellers
With most regional borders now open, travellers have been heading north for warmer weather on the cusp of the long weekend.
Bob Waugh was fuelling up at Eneabba on his way to the Murchison River Caravan Park in Kalbarri.
Bob Waugh is heading to Kalbarri for the long weekend after the opening of regional travel restrictions to the Mid West.(Laura Meachim: ABC Midwest Wheatbelt)
“As soon as the McGowan Government authorised the opening of all the regional borders we instantly changed our plans from the South West to Kalbarri,” he said.
“The weather up here is supposed to clear up as of tomorrow and be pretty nice through Sunday and Monday.
“We’ve brought a bit of food and stuff with us but we’ve tried to limit [our purchases], so we can get back into those communities and put a bit of money back through the local economy, which I’m sure they’re in desperate need of.”
Jeff Mathieu, from Forrestfield in Perth’s east, said he had also cancelled plans to go south, opting to spend the long weekend in Dongara.
“I was just waiting for the news [of the borders to open] as soon as I heard it, I just booked it,” he said.
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