09/04/2021
I know it has been a “few” hours since He posted this ....
I am pleased to announce that based on the latest public health advice, from midnight tomorrow (12.01am Saturday, 10 April), we will be raising capacity limits for certain indoor and outdoor venue with fixed seating to 100 per cent, with no upper numerical cap.
This is big step forward in the removal of restrictions – one that we can only take due to the hard work from Western Australians across the community, giving health experts the confidence to proceed.
The following indoor and outdoor venues will be able to move to 100 per cent of the fixed seating capacity, and SafeWA and contact registers will continue as mandatory:
• auditoriums and amphitheatres;
• theatres;
• concert halls;
• cinemas;
• comedy lounges; and
• performing arts centres.
WA’s major venues such as Optus Stadium, RAC Arena, HBF Stadium - Main Arena, and HBF Park will be able to have 100 per cent of the fixed seating capacity in the spectator seating and special seating spaces.
Places of worship will be able to have 100 per cent of capacity of a space being used for formal worship.
However, there are some restrictions that are needed based on health advice.
The 75 per cent limit for restaurants, clubs and cafés with dedicated seating, and the two square metre rule for pubs, nightclubs, bars and other music events, will remain in place at this stage.
However, in the context of continued absence of community transmission and the continued rollout of the vaccine across the country for vulnerable groups, the Chief Health Officer anticipates that the benefits of retaining the final physical distancing and mass gathering restrictions may well be reduced and therefore could possibly be removed.
To that end, the Chief Health Officer has recommended that the situation be reviewed in one month’s time, with further advice to be provided.
We should not forget however, given our privileged position, this pandemic is not over.
Despite the global vaccination effort, cases around the world are still rising.
Now, more than ever, we have to keep up our efforts, both in terms of our efforts as a State, including our controlled border and hotel quarantine systems, and as individuals.