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Novel Coronavirus Updates

AHA Hospitality and Tourism COVID-19 Hygiene Training

A mandatory AHA Hospitality and Tourism COVID-19 hygiene training program has been launched to prepare the hospitality industry for a return to business. This specialised training course will need to be successfully completed by every staff member employed at a hospitality venue — with businesses strictly only able to reopen when the requirements are met.

The WA Government has backed the WA hospitality industry, its businesses and workers by funding the AHA Hospitality & Tourism COVID-19 Hygiene Course to ensure access to a free COVID-19 hygiene awareness training course for all.

The AHA is constantly monitoring the Coronavirus situation working closely with the Commonwealth and WA Government on strategies to help avert the effect that the situation will have on tourism by:

Maintaining constant contact with Tourism Australia and Tourism Western Australia;
Monitoring Commonwealth Department of Health and World Health Organisation advice; and
Participating in industry crisis co-ordination task forces at a State and National level.

Click the icons below for more information:

Current Restrictions

Phase 4 - 27 June 2020

Download the COVID-19 WA Roadmap here

Western Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions will be relaxed even further, as WA’s roadmap is updated to complete the removal of all restrictions.

Due to the world-leading response to COVID in WA, Phase 4 will start on Saturday, June 27 (11.59pm Friday, June 26) and will result in:

All existing gathering limits and the 100/300 rule removed
Gathering limits now only determined by WA’s reduced 2sqm rule
The 2sqm rule will include staff only at venues that hold more than 500 patrons
Removal of seated service requirements at food businesses and licensed premises
No requirement to maintain patron register at food businesses and licensed premises
Alcohol can be served as part of unseated service arrangements;
All events permitted except for large scale, multi-stage music festivals
Unseated performances permitted at venues such as concert halls, live music venues, bars, pubs and nightclubs
Gyms operating unstaffed, but regular cleaning must be maintained
The casino gaming floor reopening under agreed temporary restrictions.

For WA’s major sport and entertainment venues, a 50 per cent capacity rule will apply. Therefore, under Phase 4 the temporary capacity of Optus Stadium will be 30,633 for sport events (35,000 for concerts), HBF Park can hold 10,150 (16,500 for concerts), RAC Arena can hold 7150 (8250 for concerts).

Optus Stadium
Sport: 30,633
Concerts: 35,000

HBF Park
Sport: 10,150
Concerts: 16,500

RAC Arena
Sport: 7150
Concerts: 8250

Western Australians must continue to keep up physical distancing where possible and maintain good personal hygiene to better protect themselves and the general health of our community.

WA businesses will be expected to ensure their COVID Safety Plans are updated and continue to be implemented.

COVID Safety plans help mitigate the risk of COVID-19, are in line with health advice and provide extra confidence to patrons and staff entering the business premises.

Next phases

Depending on infection rates locally, Phase 5 is planned to be introduced on Saturday, July 18 (effective from 11.59pm Friday, July 17) and will result in the removal of the 2sqm rule.

It is also expected to see the removal of all gathering restrictions, other COVID-related rules introduced by the State Government and the 50 per cent capacity limit for major venues.

WA Hard Border & Travel Restrictions

Phase 6 was going to include the removal of WA’s hard border with the rest of the country and travel restrictions currently in place for remote Aboriginal communities.

A tentative date for the removal of WA’s hard border was planned to be included as part of Phase 6, however this was put on hold due to the rapidly evolving situation in Victoria.

When an indicative date is set in the future, it will be contingent on locally acquired infection rates in the eastern states.

The WA hard border will only be removed when the WA Chief Health Officer is confident the spread of infection is controlled in the eastern states.

All non-essential travel into WA will be banned under plans by the State Government for a “hard border” guarded by police and soldiers.

Mark McGowan said he would discuss with National Cabinet a way to “completely shut down our borders from the rest of the country”.

Talks are under way with resources and mining giants about the impact on their FIFO workforce, with BHP offering business critical interstate-based employees the opportunity to temporarily relocate to WA with their families.

The Premier said with 311 cases of COVID-19, WA had one of the lowest rates of spread in the country and “it appears we are positioning ourselves better than our eastern states counterparts”.

While details of the hard border had yet to be confirmed, it would go a step further than the current requirement that new arrivals into WA self-isolate for 14 days.

“I’m considering a hard border closure. This will mean only Western Australians will be allowed into our state. The only exemptions will be essential purposes, which includes things like freight, medical, essential work purposes or compassionate grounds,” Mr McGowan said.

“I have a clear message to people over east: if you're not a Western Australian and you want to come to WA, don't come. We don't want you. Stay at home.
“Western Australians who are still over east, if you want to come home, come hme now.”

The Premier said he needed to do something to stop “people from the more infected ostates coming and infecting Western Australians”.

WA'S BORDER MEASURES

Effective from 1.30 pm on Tuesday 24 March, new border controls will come into effect and apply to all roads, rail, air and sea routes into WA.
There will be limited exemptions for essential services and workers.
The Premier also said he was also investigating if some hotels could be acquired to use for self-isolation zones.
Unless exempted, arrivals from interstate will be ordered to self-isolate for 14 days.
The new measures will be enacted through a formal declaration under the Emergency Management Act.
The State Government was also actively considering turning Rottnest Island into a quarantine zone.

The Premier’s statement can be read here.

LEVEL 4 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS - DO NOT TRAVEL

The National Security Committee of Cabinet has raised the advice for all overseas travel to the highest level. Our advice to all Australians - regardless of your destination, age or health - is do not travel overseas at this time.

This is our highest travel advice setting – Level 4 of 4.

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS TO AUSTRALIA

The Australian Government has made it mandatory for all inbound international travellers to self-isolate for 14 days, effective as Monday March 16.

Self-isolation applies to everyone, citizens and visitors alike, who step off any international flight.

As part of the measure, cruise ships from international ports have also be banned.

Health and Safety Protocols

Click here for information regarding Coronavirus and Food Safety.

Health and Preventative Advice from the World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus, how it affects people, how they can be treated, and what countries can do to respond.

Because this virus usually causes respiratory illness, WHO has advice to people on how to protect themselves and those around them from getting the disease.

WHO’s recommendations for the general public are as follows, which include hand and respiratory hygiene, and safe food practices:

Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider;
When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals;
The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.

Click here to preview and print WHO's health signage to display in staff back of house areas.

For more information, read the latest transcripts and media releases from our Chief Medical Officer and our Deputy Chief Medical Officer about coronavirus (COVID-19) here.

Fact Sheets and FAQ's

As of 12 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that COVID-19 is a pandemic.

The Australian Government's Department of Health has issued updated fact sheets for hotels, guest and hotel staff. Hotel management should provide information and brief all employees and contract staff, including domestic and cleaning staff, on relevant information and procedures to prevent the spread of 2019-nCoV to people in the hotel setting.

FACT SHEET FOR HOTELS AND STAFF

This information has been provided by the Australian Government's Department of Health and informs hotel management and staff about coronavirus.

Fact sheet for hotel guests

This information has been provided by the Australian Government's Department of Health and informs hotel guests about coronavirus (COVID-19).

FACT SHEET FOR ISOLATION GUIDANCE

This information has been provided by the Australian Government's Department of Health and provides guidance on isolation and coronavirus (COVID-19).

COVID-19 self-declaration forms

Click below to download a copy of the self-declartion forms provided by the AHA(WA). These documents have been provided to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Department of Health have provided a dedicated phone number for WA venues to call if you require more information. Please call (08) 9328 0553 or for contact details for your local public health unit, please click here.

Chief Medical Officer Advice to Hotels

Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy has provided advice to Hotels regarding the virus and how it should be managed. Click here to see.

Novel Coronarirus and Food Safety

With many WA venues now providing delivery and takeaway food services, it is vital that businesses be extra vigilant with all aspects of health and hygiene, to ensure no-one contaminates the surfaces in your food service or processing environment because of illness or unclean habits.

Hospitality businesses that are able to pivot their restaurants, cafes or catering businesses into a ‘take-away’ option or offer ‘ready-to-eat’ meals (like pre-packaged meals or frozen meals) need to ensure that they are following best practice.

Please click here to access a handy guide that will help venues adhere to best practice when it comes to providing takeaway or ready to eat meals.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have also provided comprehensive information on food safety as it relates to COVID-19 and we encourage you to review their website.

Good hygienic manufacturing practices and thorough cooking for cooked products will minimise the risk of transmission and meet food safety requirements.

The FSANZ website contains important information that you should be aware of including:

General food safety advice for everyone
Advice for food businesses
How do I prevent people in my business transmitting the virus?
How can I properly clean and sanitise my equipment and facilities?
What if someone on my business premises is unwell?
Can the virus be transmitted through food?

To access the FSANZ website, please click here.

Current as at 9.30am 22 October 2020

Global Update - COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that COVID-19 is a pandemic

Across the world there have been more than:

350,424 - New cases overnight
40,665,438 - Confirmed cases in total
1,121,843 - Deaths

Find out how COVID-19 is affecting other countries on the World Health Organisation (WHO) website. View the:

This advice should be read in conjunction with the ‘What you need to know’ and ‘Isolation guidance’ information sheets.

Australia Update - COVID-19

Total cases, recoveries, deaths, and new cases in the last 24 hours

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, recovered cases, deaths, and new cases in the last 24 hours, recorded in Australia since 22 January 2020.

The number of active cases listed below is an estimate as states and territories differ in how they collect this data.

Total COVID-19 cases by states and territories

This table shows the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths reported in each state and territory since 22 January 2020. State and territory totals reflect where a person has been tested and undergoing public health management, this may differ from their normal place of residence.

113 - Australian Capital Territory
4,356 - New South Wales
33 - Northern Territory
1,165 - Queensland
485 - South Australia
230 - Tasmania
20,323 - Victoria
739 - Western Australia

Coronavirus (COVID-19) at a glance infographic collection

A collection of daily infographics providing a quick view of the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in Australia each day since 5 April 2020.

Reference Points

Australian Government Department of Health - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources avilable here.

Factsheets from the Australian Department of Health can be downloaded on their website.

The World Health Organization (WHO) produces daily Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation reports. For details see here.

Updated WHO advice for international travel in relation to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus see here.

The Prime Minister has announced the activation of the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

For more information, read the latest transcripts and media releases from our Chief Medical Officer and our Deputy Chief Medical Officer about coronavirus (COVID-19) in our news section.