WA expanding its rules around showing proof of vaccination

Premier Mark McGowan told reporters on Monday that proof of vaccination requirements would be expanded further in coming days.

“We are currently finalising a longer-term policy, which will cover a wide range of licensed events and venues, restaurants, as well as riskier environments like indoor fitness centres,” he said.

“This policy will come into force as we move closer to easing border controls.”

The WA border is scheduled to reopen on February 5, but some have called for a delay as the Omicron strain surges in the eastern states.

“Far too many resources are being used over east to care for individuals who would not take the basic steps to care for themselves,” Mr McGowan said.

“If you, for some reason, have not had your first dose yet, my advice would be to make a booking today, otherwise life is about to get very difficult for you.”

Proof of vaccination is already in place for venues such as nightclubs, music festivals and major events, pubs, taverns and the Crown gaming floor.

A new app to make the process of showing proof of vaccination easier will be launched on Tuesday.

WA recorded three new local cases overnight but all are in quarantine and are not considered to have been infectious in the community.

One was linked to the Delta backpacker cluster and the other two are household contacts linked to interstate travel.

WA is monitoring 89 active cases, with more than half in home quarantine.

Regarding the case of the Hyatt Hotel security guard and his partner, they had 33 contacts but all had tested negative.

Mr McGowan said despite every jurisdiction except the Northern Territory being considered “extreme risk”, meaning very limited travel, there were still 380 people who would arrive in WA later on Monday on five separate flights.

That includes 138 from the NT who will go into self-quarantine.

The Premier said 227 truck drivers were stopped at the South Australian border on Sunday and took at rapid antigen test, with one testing positive and remaining in SA.

“With this sheer number of cases in the rest of the country right now, it is placing pressure on supply chains across a number of industries,” Mr McGowan said.

It also illustrated there was a risk of another outbreak prior to WA reopening on February 5, he added.

“It means there are genuine risks at play from freight movement, limited exemptions and the like,” he said.

“It’s a reminder of the importance of vigilance for all West Australians.”

WA has a first dose vaccination rate of 93.9 per cent for people aged 12 and over.

The third dose vaccination rate is at 14.5 per cent for people aged 16 and over.

“This is a good number considering those eligible. However, we need to get this up as quickly as possible,” Mr McGowan said.

Children aged five to 11 are now also eligible to be vaccinated and more than 13,000 bookings have been made in WA between Tuesday and January 24.

Mr McGowan said there were still more than 5000 appointments available for parents to book at state-run clinics.

“We are also sharing some of our paediatric vaccine supply with GPs who didn’t receive the supply they were promised by the Commonwealth, which is disappointing this far into the pandemic after assurances were made,” he said.

“We received 33,700 doses on Friday and expect to receive that each week, but we will provide some of the doses where we can to GPs and pharmacies which have not yet received the doses they were expecting from the Commonwealth.”

A ban on rapid antigen tests has now been lifted in WA but Mr McGowan said PCR tests were still preferred.

“We’ve made them lawful and therefore available. I’d just advise people not to use them unless required,” he said.

“We’re not aware of any Covid in the community in WA, so there’s no need to use them at this point in time.

“We have PCR testing available at clinics, you can go and get yourself tested. It’s a more accurate test, as we know.”

Mr McGowan said it was important to have RATs available when they were needed.

He said he had written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison to ask for the state’s fair share of the 10 million the Commonwealth had ordered.

Originally published as WA Premier reveals how the state will expand its rules around showing proof of vaccination