Published on Tuesday, 24 March 2020 at 4:37:34 PM
Update - 1/04/2020
Agency Advisory #14
COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease)
Tuesday 31 March 2020 14:00 Hours (latest updates in RED)
This advisory has been authorised by the PHEOC A/Coordinator, Dr Paul Effler
New Information
• As of 31 March 2020, there are 364 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in WA.
• To date, 14,340 Western Australians who have tested for COVID-19 have returned a negative result.
• NEW & UPDATED DAILY Daily Snapshot
• According to the most recent National Incident Room Situation Report dated 18:00 AEDT 30 March 2020, there have been 4,245 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and 18 deaths. Of the 4,245 confirmed cases, this includes 78 cases from the ACT, 1,918 cases from NSW, 14 cases from the NT, 689 cases from QLD, 305 cases from SA, 65 cases from TAS and 821 cases from VIC. To date, 67% of the cases have been acquired overseas; including from: at sea (25%); the USA (16%); and the UK (13%).
• According to the most recent WHO Situation Report dated 10:00 CET 30 March 2020, in the past 24 hours:
o Worldwide: 58,411 new confirmed cases (693,224 total); 3,215 new deaths (33,106 total);
o Western Pacific Region: 987 new confirmed cases (103,775 total); 23 new deaths (3,649 total);
o European Region: 31,726 new confirmed cases (392,757 total); 2,535 new deaths (23,962 total);
o South-East Asia: 375 new confirmed cases (4,084 total); 19 new deaths (158 total);
o Eastern Mediterranean Region: 3,552 new confirmed cases (46,329 total); 145 new deaths (2,813 total);
o Regions of the Americas: 21,289 new confirmed cases (142,081 total); 484 new deaths (2,457 total);
o African Region: 482 new confirmed cases (3,486 total); 9 new deaths (60 total).
• AHPPC Statement 30 March
• The community should call police on 131 444 to report people in breach of self-isolation directions or businesses in breach of State Emergency Management Act Directions.
• Travel between regions in Western Australia will be restricted from midnight 31 March 2020. Regional boundaries will mirror those of the state’s Regional Development Commissions. Further details will be released when available from Department of Premier and Cabinet. Regional Restrictions Directions
• WA State of Emergency - WA Directions are now in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please see Department of Premier and Cabinet website for all listed below. COVID-19 State of Emergency Declarations
Travel
o Border Controls
o Restrictions to access the Kimberley and remote Aboriginal communities
o Self-quarantine test and close contact directions
o Self-Isolation Following Interstate Travel Direction
o Self-Isolation Following Overseas Travel Directions
o Rottnest Island Directions
o Cruise ships
o Large Vessel Directions
o MV Pacific Princess Directions
o MSC Magnifica Directions
o MS Artania Directions
o Silver Whisper Directions
Business and community
o Preventative Restriction of Activities Directions
o Closure of Certain Places of Business, Worship and Entertainment Direction
o Closure of Gun Shops
o Mass Gatherings Directions
o Remote Aboriginal Communities Directions
o Visitors to Residential Aged Care Facilities Direction
o Incident Management Team Accommodation Directions - Optus Stadium
Local government
o Public Authorities Directions - Delivery of Goods and Collection of Rubbish and Refuse
• WA Premier announced Stage 3 restrictions will be in place after 11:59pm Tuesday, 31 March 2020. The WA Government's strong guidance to all Western Australians is to stay home unless for shopping, medical or health care needs, exercise in compliance with guidelines, work and study (if you can’t work or learn remotely). Exceptions to this include:
o people of the same household going out together
o funerals - a maximum of 10 people
o weddings - a maximum of 5 people.
All playgrounds, skate parks and outside gyms in public places will be closed.
• As of 29 March 2020, the Commonwealth government announced that the following restrictions are in place:
o a “human biosecurity emergency” has been declared under the Biosecurity Act 2015, allowing the Health Minister to issue targeted, legally enforceable directions and requirements to combat the virus.
o the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has now moved to the Targeted Action stage.
o Social distancing includes:
▪ residents of aged care homes will only be able to have one visit per day, of no more than two people;
▪ closure of businesses and venues including fitness centres, swimming pools, libraries, auction houses, beauty therapies, pubs, clubs, sporting and religious venues. Restaurants and cafes are only be allowed to offer takeaway services. There are also tighter restrictions on activities including weddings, funerals and markets;
▪ all Australians should stay at home, and limit outings to essential activities such as attendance to work, shopping for food or medicine.
▪ public gatherings, excluding household members, have been reduced to a maximum of two people
▪ minimise all unnecessary contact with others
▪ keep 1.5 metres away from others
▪ avoid physical greetings such as handshakes, hugs and kisses
▪ use tap and pay instead of cash.
• From 30 March 2020 to 3 April 2020, WA schools will have a normal teaching environment, but families are encouraged to keep children home if possible to do so. From 6 April to 9 April, schools will remain open for supervision only, in cases where parents still need to go to work and/or school is a safer environment for at-risk households. School holidays will then begin in full, as scheduled from 10 April 2020.
Summary of other key information
• From 00:00 AEDT 28 March 2020, all people returning to Australia will be required to self-isolate in a hotel or other accommodation for 14 days before returning home.
• TRAVEL - On 24 March the Prime Minister announced a ban on all overseas travel, with few exceptions. If you have future travel planned or are considering going overseas, cancel or postpone these plans. A ban is in place. The risks to your health and that of others is too great. For urgent consular assistance contact your nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate or call DFAT’s Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 from Australia or +61 6261 3305 from overseas. Also see SMARTRAVELLER
• WA borders closed at 13:30 24 March 2020. Interstate arrivals are now required to self-isolate for 14 days, and the border controls apply to all road, air, rail and sea access points. Exceptions apply for essential services and workers. Please see details Self-Isolation Following Interstate Travel Direction
• Aboriginal Communities Information
o Checklist for Remote Clinics in Aboriginal Communities
o Remote Aboriginal Communities Guidance
• Hon Greg Hunt MP, Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP - Travel Restrictions to Remote Areas Media Release
• Advice for Funeral Directors COVID-19 Advice for Funeral Directors
• On 21 March 2020 the WA Minister for Health announced:
o the cessation of all Category 3 elective surgeries from Tuesday 24 March. No new Category 2 elective surgeries will be booked from Monday 23 March.
o new guidelines for hospital visitors will be introduced on Monday 23 March.
• COVID Clinics Find a COVID-19 Clinic near you
• Mining Sites and Remote Industry Guidelines Preventing the spread of COVID-19 on remote industrial sites
• Information for Hotels & Accommodation who have guests self-isolating as a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases. Hotels and Accommodation COVID-19 Confirmed or Suspected
• Limits on dispensing and sales of medicines Medicine supplies in Australia are strong, however demand for medicines has increased markedly over the past two weeks, resulting in some community pharmacies and wholesalers reporting temporary strain on the supply of some medicines.
Information for Employers and Employees • It is not possible for employees to provide medical certificates if they have been declined a test for COVID-19. People who do not have symptoms SHOULD NOT be tested.
• Government employees visiting remote communities
• Travel for WA Health Staff - Due to the international outbreak of COVID-19, the State Government has recently banned non-critical, work-related international travel for public sector employees, effective immediately. To protect our staff and patients, WA Health has decided to extend this ban to include all funded international work-related travel, including sponsored travel.
More information
National Coronavirus Health Information Line: 1800 020 080
• International information and updates: World Health Organisation
• WHO COVID-19 Rolling Updates
• Various resources for employers, schools and higher education, health, aged care, childcare, transport, travel and hotel sectors are available at the following websites:
WA Department of Health
HealthyWA
Commonwealth Government
COVID-19 MythBusters (World Health Organisation)
Next advice - The next agency advisory will be issued on Friday 3 March 2020.
Update - 30/03/2020
The WA Government will introduce further restrictions on travel within Western Australia from Tuesday night 31 March 2020 (12.00am AWST Wednesday morning 1 April 2020), to assist in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Western Australian intrastate travel is defined as movement through the boundaries of the regions of Western Australia.
These regions are:
- Perth and Peel (due to their close proximity, the Perth and Peel regions will combine into one region)
- South West
- Great Southern
- Goldfields-Esperance
- Mid-West
- Wheatbelt
- Gascoyne
- Pilbara
- Kimberley.
Western Australians will not be permitted to leave their regional boundary. Police have the power to enforce these restrictions and fines of up to $50,000 can be issued.
Exemptions will apply for:
- employment purposes
- medical reasons
- health and emergency services
- people living in ‘border communities’, who may not have access to groceries or supplies within their region
- freight
- compassionate grounds.
To see the Regions - go to the link below
http://www.drd.wa.gov.au/regions/Pages/Wheatbelt.aspx
In accordance with new Government restrictions in place to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) the Shire of Wagin Recreation Centre, Wagin Community Gymnasium, Wagin Swimming Pool and Wagin Library is closed to the public.
All Parks within Wagin are also closed to the public.
The Shire office will continue to operate during regular opening hours, but we urge you to reconsider visiting our office unless it is absolutely necessary. Our friendly staff are always happy to help over the phone where possible. Any necessary payments can be made over the phone or by internet banking. We ask that, for the safety of our staff, you make payments with EFTPOS.
The Wagin Refuse Site will also remain open during regular opening hours, at this stage.
Our Australian leaders and medical professionals are urging us to take precautions for not only our own welfare but also for the welfare of others. Reduce your contact with people and where possible maintain your distance of 1.5 metres from others. If you are feeling unwell stay at home.
Be assured that at the Shire of Wagin we are well prepared for this ever-changing situation and are taking the safety of our staff and entire community very seriously.
Peter Webster, CEO
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