Australia: Authorities to ease COVID-19 restrictions in Western Australia from November 14 /update 58

Event

Authorities in Western Australia are set to ease domestic border restrictions due to reduced coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rates in Australia from Saturday, November 14. 

The government continues to implement Phase Four of the state's six-step recovery roadmap. Venues with seated events, such as cinemas, concert halls, and theatres, are no longer required to limit crowd sizes to one person per every two square meters (21 square feet) but remain limited to 60-percent capacity. Most other businesses remain subject to the two-square-meter rule. Authorities continue to ban travel to remote Aboriginal communities throughout the state.

Social distancing and hygiene measures remain in place throughout Australia as do restrictions on public gatherings. 

As of Thursday, November 12, there have been 27,675 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 907 associated fatalities in Australia. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). 

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on the skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover the mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the virus.