[9] Gatherings of more than 500 people were banned. [34], On 23 April 2021, due to an asymptomatic returned traveller who tested positive after completing 14 days of hotel quarantine and subsequently went into the community, a lockdown from 12:01 am on 24 April to 12:01 am on 27 April was declared for the Perth and Peel regions. [88] On 10 May, the ACT was again free of active COVID-19 cases. In addition, the State of Emergency in Victoria was extended until 11:59 p.m. on 16 August 2020. [51][52], On 22 March the federal government announced a second stimulus package of A$66billion, increasing the amount of total financial package offered to A$89billion. This chronology summarises key announcements from state and territory governments on COVID-19 up until 30 June 2020. [65], On 21 September, the Emergency Management Amendment (Temporary COVID-19 Provisions) Bill 2022 passed the lower house of the WA Parliament after a debate that finished at midnight. [20][21], On 8 March, an 82-year-old man died, becoming the second death at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged-care facility and the third death in the country. The day before, at 3pm, it was announced that 2,315 of the 5,687 confirmed coronavirus cases had recovered. [74], On 5 April, the Queen of Australia addressed the Commonwealth in a televised broadcast, in which she asked people to "take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return". Chief executive of the Australian Hotels Association WA, Bradley Woods said: "We estimate over $100 million revenue and sales has been lost as a result of this shutdown ". [92] By 18 May, this had increased to 12 cases, and on that day it was revealed that a delivery driver had tested positive, prompting the closing for cleaning of 12 more McDonald's locations: Melton East, Laverton North, Yallambie, Taylors Lakes, Campbellfield, Sunbury, Hoppers Crossing, Riverdale Village, Sandown, Calder Highway Northbound/Outbound, Calder Highway Southbound/Inbound, and BP Rockbank Service Centre Outbound. As of 3 May another lockdown was still a possibility. Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young said the January 2021 lockdown did indeed act as a circuit-breaker, similar to SA's November 2020 response, to stop the virus spreading out of . The four-day lockdown of Perth and the Peel region in Western Australia lifted on Saturday, 3 July, with the last of coronavirus restrictions lifted on Monday 12 July. Up to 10 guests were permitted at weddings, funerals could have up to 20 mourners indoors, 30 outdoors. One result was that AFL spectators were not allowed at the Western AFL Derby on May 2 at Optus Stadium. Here's what that means for you", "Homicide detectives launch criminal probe into coronavirus ship deaths", "Coronavirus: The Queen's broadcast in full", "Australia publishes virus recovery tally", "Four more residents at Newmarch House dead after contracting coronavirus at aged care facility ", "Four residents at nursing home die from coronavirus in less than 24 hours", "NSW Health confirms 10 coronavirus cases now at Western Sydney aged care home ABC News", "Anglicare Newmarch House coronavirus deaths hit 19 after 93yo aged care resident dies", "New coronavirus cases confirmed as SA Premier announces $350m stimulus package", "Tasmania closes two hospitals to 'stamp out' coronavirus outbreak in the north-west", "The Government's COVID-19 tracking app is called CovidSafe and is launching today! [148], On 2 September, the Australian economy goes into recession for the first time in nearly thirty years, as the country's gross domestic product (GDP) falls 7 per cent in the June quarter. As a result, up to 100 other staff from the airport were required to self-isolate, causing cancellations of flights to and from Adelaide. Following a pandemic being declared by the World Health Organisation on March 11, the Commonwealth enacted a raft of unprecedented measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 including closing the international border, mandating hotel quarantine for returning Australians and whittling non-essential gathering limits down to just two people. Ten people were permitted in restaurants and cafes, social distancing rules still had to be followed. [91][92] The number had increased to 75 by 9 May,[93][92] 88 by 13 May,[94] and 90 by 14 May. [121] The Government response to the interim report was published in November. Gatherings of up to 20 people permitted. On the same day, regional Victoria moved from Stage Three restrictions to the Second Step of the roadmap, which enabled up to five people to gather together in outdoor public places from a maximum of two households, the reopening of outdoor pools and playgrounds, as well as allowing religious services to be conducted outside with a maximum of five people, plus a faith leader. [130], On 12 July, the free Federally funded childcare introduced on 2 April 2020[72] ended, and the Federal Child Care Subsidy was reintroduced. [146], The physical Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) Open Day in Canberra was replaced by an on-line event from 17 to 22 August. Please try again later. The Perth and Peel regions' three-day lockdown will end as planned at 12.01am midnight (April 27) based on the latest public health advice. A$250million so state-owned buildings and public schools could employ more cleaners. That advantage bought the federal and state government time to stage a defence which would ultimately lead to community spread of coronavirus being eliminated in WA by mid April a feat that has been maintained for 138 days. At the time, Perth Stadium became the state's COVID-19 incident response centre. [30], Victoria confirmed nine new cases, one of which was the first case of human-to-human transmission in the state. The states quickly enacted a variety of restrictions against travellers from WA who arrived since 25 January including requiring COVID testing, 5 to 14 days of self or supervised quarantine, and Victoria forbidding entry without a permit. [3], Western Australia's low case numbers were attributed to a swift introduction of restrictions by authorities, a strict state border policy, and its isolation. [122], On 4 July, the Victorian Government announced an additional two postcodes affected by the lockdown until 29July 2020. The Inquiry was to " examine the operation of Victoria's hotel quarantine program for returning travellers." Timeline of events which sparked Perth, Peel COVID-19 lockdown. Instead of entering mandatory quarantine at their own expense, the women were active in the community and infected three other confirmed cases. The man infected a cleaner at the hotel, who then went on to infect two others in the community. He had attended several large social events,[53] and subsequently, as of 5January2022[update], 21 local cases were linked to that event. The Prime Minister tells people they must stay at home, and should only leave for essential reasons such as buying food and exercising once per day. Last updated: 24 April 2021 Listen to article Play However, the new case in Queensland was linked to the Rydges on Swanston cluster in Melbourne when a man who travelled from Melbourne to Brisbane on Virgin flight VA313 on 1 June tested positive. [30], In response to the lockdown, health authorities in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Victoria declared the affected areas to be COVID-19 hotspots. [107], On 6 June, both New South Wales and Victoria reported no new cases for the previous 24 hours, with only Queensland and Western Australia reporting one new case each, the lowest national total since February. [38][39][40], In mid-June, there was controversy when the Western Australia Police accessed data from the SafeWA contact tracing app as part of a murder investigation. From 31 January, foreign nationals returning from China were required to have spent a fortnight in a third country before being allowed into Australia. The immediate circuit breaker lockdown has been introduced on the best of public health advice due to a fast evolving situation in Western Australia following a third COVID-19 . A post-lockdown transition will be in place for the Perth and Peel regions until 12.01am Saturday, May 1 to keep Western Australia safe. [17], On 4 March, a second death was reported, a 95-year-old woman dying at a Sydney aged-care facility. The venue, Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) was being used as a COVID-19 testing station. More than 2 million people in the Perth and Peel regions entered a four-day lockdown on Tuesday, after three COVID-19 cases were found in the community. [144], On 14 August in the Northern Territory, the National NAIDOC Awards and the Awards ceremony, due for November in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) after already being postponed from 11 July, were cancelled due to the " uncertainty of travel restrictions, quarantining, and physical distancing requirements. [68], On the evening of 31 March, six baggage handlers from Adelaide Airport had tested positive. By 2April, 34passengers and 5 crew members had tested positive for the virus in New South Wales alone. [49], 14 days quarantine was required for any border entry from the ACT, NT or Queensland. Citizens are being asked to stay at home and practice social and physical distancing as much as possible. This was the first new case in 19 days for the state. [197], On 20 December, the Northern Territory re-imposed controls on cross border movements of people who were from, or visited Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Illawarra and the Central Coast, including quarantine requirements. On March 24, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a complete lockdown of the entire nation for 21 days in an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Monday, March 23, 2020. McGowan said that since 31January more than 102,000 COVID-19 tests had been done in WA. The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).The first confirmed case in Australia was identified on 25 January 2020, in Victoria, when a man who had returned from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, tested positive for the virus. They were eligible for subsidised childcare of up to 100 hours per fortnight till 4October 2020. The state is also on alert for possible cases linked to the NT mine worker, with at least three flights from Perth carrying 252 workers from the Granites mine between June 18-25. After being restricted to take-away only since March, free standing cafes and restaurants, and those inside pubs and clubs, were allowed some sit-down dining. (Nine / Supplied) Wednesday 11th Peter Dutton the Home Affairs Minister for Australia was diagnosed in Queensland. The messages, leaked by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who was a ghost-writer on Mr Hancock's Pandemic Diaries, show he expressed the fear on November 1, 2020, a day after he announced a national . [126], On 6 July, the Victorian and NSW governments announced that their interstate border would be closed from the start of 8 July. [202][203] In response, on 31 December, Victoria lowered allowed household guests to 15, and mandated masks indoors anywhere other than in Victorians' own homes.[204]. The current rules allow for: Social gatherings of up to 10 people, both indoors and outdoors. Western Australians must continue to wear masks in public at indoor . Lockdown extended across the nation until 3 May, with a conditional relaxation after 20 April for the regions where the spread has been contained. [29] Approximately 2 million people in Western Australia were affected by the lockdown. Stanley Men's Shed made a wooden sign to mark Wee Shorty's resting place with shed member Jim Wallace presented it to owner Pete Chan at his Perth takeaway (Image: Pete Chan) It was Jim who . [162], On 11 October, Victoria's State of Emergency and State of Disaster were extended until 11.59pm on 8 November. NSW residents over 18 years-of-age will be eligible to receive four A$25 vouchers through Service NSW. [citation needed], In late September a report from Ernst & Young stated that pandemic related border restrictions could result in a shortfall of 26,000 farm workers to pick fruit and vegetables over Australia's summer harvest season. Following a pandemic being declared by the World Health Organisation on March 11, the Commonwealth enacted a raft of unprecedented measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 including closing the international border, mandating hotel quarantine for returning Australians and whittling non-essential gathering limits down to just two people. [52], An unvaccinated French backpacker tested positive to COVID-19 after flying to Perth from Queensland. [133], On 27 July, the Prime Minister renamed the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission, formed on 25 March 2020 as the "National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board (NCC)". No patient zero was found for this outbreak. Western Australia has recorded another locally acquired COVID-19 on the second day of a four-day lockdown in Perth and Peel. Monday March 23, will be the final day of the term for kids in Victoria. On Sunday 2May, McGowan also announced a number of new restrictions, including that nightclubs were to be closed immediately. I think [the soft lockdown] was the right thing to do at the time because it wasnt clear that we had dodged the bullet, so from that perspective, it was good management, he said. [40] New South Wales Liberal senator, Andrew Bragg, was the third Australian politician to test positive. [159], Canberra's 2021 Summernats 34 car festival was "delayed" in late September 2020 until January 2022. New South Wales health authorities asked all passengers to go into self-isolation. [70], On 2 April, the number of cases in Victoria exceeded 1,000, including over 100 healthcare workers. This is encouraging news," said Premier Mark McGowan. [187], On 30 November, the Victorian government announced that a new dedicated agency, "COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria" (CQV), had been created. Meanwhile in South Australia, which has also eliminated unknown community transmission of the virus, a Victorian truck driver staying in a border town hotel caused a small outbreak after testing positive to COVID-19 on July 30. Anzac Day 2020 in Isolation 2020 Credit: Jennifer Polixenni Brankin / Getty Images. In addition, the state government during a critically timed month-long soft lockdown in WA in April also closed the regional and state borders, shut schools a week early and ordered interstate travellers to self-isolate on arrival. [169][170] On the same day, Daniel Andrews announced a significant easing of restrictions to take effect over the coming weeks. [103][104], On 25 May, a night duty manager at one of Melbourne's quarantine hotels reported a fever and tested positive on 26 May. Latest updates Keep up to date with latest news and advice. ", "Coronavirus: thousands who left cruise ship in Sydney told to self-isolate after three people test positive", "Qantas to cease international flying, tells majority of workforce to take leave", "Coronavirus: Australia to close pubs, cafes and places of worship", "Coronavirus infections in NSW pass 800, Australia's eighth death confirmed", "Interstate coronavirus cases from Ruby Princess jump as more than 100 outside NSW test positive", National COVID-19 Coordination Commission Media Release, National COVID-19 Coordination Commission established, Morrison launches COVID-19 Coordination Commission, cancels non-urgent surgery, "Australia prepares to fly cruise passengers to Germany", "Coronavirus patients from Artania cruise ship sent to Joondalup hospital after 29 new COVID-19 positive tests", "Artania cruise ship leaves Fremantle after fatal coronavirus outbreak on board", "More than 400 coronavirus cases 10% of Australia's total are from Ruby Princess cruise ship", "Coronavirus death in ACT was a passenger on the under-fire Ruby Princess cruise ship", "JobKeeper numbers cut by 3 million after Federal Government reveals accounting bungle in coronavirus stimulus program", "Federal Government offers $130b in coronavirus wage subsidies for businesses to pay workers", "Coronavirus cluster linked to Qantas baggage handlers at Adelaide Airport continues to grow", "New COVID-19 restrictions on travel within WA as big queues form on WA/SA border ahead of closure ABC News", "Australian coronavirus death toll rises to 24 as Victoria records sixth death", "Child care to become free under radical overhaul of 'pre-pandemic' sector", "The Federal Government's free childcare program ends on Monday. [128], By 10 July more than 357,000 people had returned to Australia since 13March 2020. Western Australia (WA) confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on 21 February 2020, and its first death on 1 March. [178][179], On 16 November South Australia reintroduced "a number of significant restrictions" after an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. It provides a comprehensive overview of the announcements made, but is not designed to be exhaustive. [181], On 23 November, the Australian Capital Territory government announced the "ChooseCBR" electronic voucher discount scheme to help stimulate local businesses during the "coronavirus recession". Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (2020), Jenny Mikakos Handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, National COVID-19 Coordination Commission, National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board, 2020 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election, Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (timeline), Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic#Australia, "Australia to screen some flights from China, warns coronavirus difficult to stop", "First confirmed case of novel coronavirus in Australia", "First Australian coronavirus case confirmed in Victoria", "Coronavirus: three cases in NSW and one in Victoria as infection reaches Australia", "Coronavirus spreads across Australia amid scramble to find more cases", "Australians told not to travel to mainland China due to coronavirus threat, border restrictions tightened considerably", "Chinese woman in Queensland confirmed as 15th Australian coronavirus case", "Five more Australian Diamond Princess cruise passengers diagnosed with coronavirus", "Coronavirus (COVID-19) current situation and case numbers", "Coronavirus pandemic fears prompt Government to activate emergency response and extend travel ban", "Australia announces Iran travel ban amid COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic", "WA man becomes first Australian to die from coronavirus", "Coronavirus live update: Australia reports first cases of community transmission", "Australia records first cases of human-to-human transmission of coronavirus", "First coronavirus case confirmed in Tasmania, after man who travelled from Iran tests positive for COVID-19", "First coronavirus death confirmed in NSW as infections increase", "Doctor who had coronavirus demands apology from Victorian health minister over 'inaccuracies', "Melbourne GP clinic closed after doctor tests positive for coronavirus", "Third Australian with coronavirus dies as infection rates in NSW climbs", "Three new cases of COVID-19 in Victoria", "Coronavirus now Australia-wide as ACT confirms first case of COVID-19", "Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson test positive for coronavirus on the Gold Coast", "Coronavirus: We have a clear plan to see Australia through, says Scott Morrison", "Media Statements COVID-19 precaution postpones works at Peel Health Campus", "More COVID-19 cases confirmed in Victoria", "Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has coronavirus", "All new jury trials in Victoria to be suspended amid coronavirus crisis", "Government reviewing Italy travel advice amid coronavirus lockdown", "Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic phase will call for 'extreme measures', Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says", "State Of Emergency Declared in Victoria Over COVID-19", "A STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL", "University of Queensland halts all lectures due to coronavirus fears", "Another eight Queenslanders confirmed with COVID-19", "NSW Government announces $2.3billion coronavirus stimulus package", Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Declaration2020, "Human biosecurity emergency declared in Australia", "Coronavirus: calls to repatriate 15,000 crew members from cruise ships off Australia's coast", "COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics News", "NT Government announces $60million coronavirus economic stimulus package", "THE VIRTUAL GATES HAVE CLOSED ON A MASSIVE EVENT! [157] Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that coronavirus restrictions were intended to be lifted faster, in time for a "Covid-normal Christmas". There were 112 total active COVID cases in WA, 34 quarantined in hotels, 78 self-quarantined. [171] From 11.59pm on 8November onwards, the 25 kilometres (16 miles) travel limit was removed, restrictions on moving between regional Victorian and metropolitan Melbourne lifted, gyms and fitness studios opened for with a maximum of 20 people per space and one person per 8square metres, capacity limits for restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars increased, gathering limits for faith and religious gatherings increased and indoor pools opened for up to 20 people. [16] Another confirmed case on this day was a 40-year-old man from Launceston who came back on 29 February from a flight which left Melbourne and landed in Launceston on the same day. Perth and Peel Lockdown - all non essential City of Perth services will be closed during this time Further to an announcement by Premier Mark McGowan this afternoon (Friday 23 April 2021) Perth and Peel will go into lockdown for three days, from midnight tonight until midnight on Monday 26 April 2021. Masks are mandatory from 6pm tonight, Friday 23 April 2021 for Perth and Peel residents. Updated Mar 23, 2020, 1:21 PM SGT SYDNEY (REUTERS) - Australia began living under strict new lockdown rules on Monday (March 23) as coronavirus cases topped 1,600 and authorities denied entry. [152], On 6 September, the Victorian Government released their five-step roadmap to reopening, which detailed the conditions which needed to be met to facilitate the gradual easing of Victoria's restrictions. More than 400 people were arrested and nearly 400 penalties issued. Travel from New South Wales and Victoria was already restricted, so only travellers from South Australia and Tasmania are not required to quarantine. The 78-year-old man, from Perth, was a passenger on board the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that was forced to quarantine in the Japanese port of Yokohama. [64], As of 30 March, at least 440 passengers (211 in New South Wales, 71 in South Australia, 70 in Queensland, 43 in Western Australia, 22 in the Australian Capital Territory, 18 in Victoria, three in Tasmania and two in the Northern Territory) from Ruby Princess had tested positive for the virus. ", "First WA coronavirus case flown to Perth for treatment after evacuating Diamond Princess ship", "Agency Advisory #3 COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease)", "WA confirms first novel Coronavirus death", "Coronavirus quarantine rule prompts WA threat of $50,000 penalty as panic buying intensifies", "Western Australia, South Australia to close borders in response to coronavirus pandemic", "New COVID-19 restrictions on travel within WA as big queues form on WA/SA border ahead of closure - ABC News", "Kimberley coronavirus case spike sees shire borders closed to protect the vulnerable from COVID-19", "Coronavirus sees WA close its borders from midnight on Sunday to stop COVID-19 spread from eastern states", "No new coronavirus COVID-19 cases in WA for the first time in more than five weeks", "Artania cruise ship leaves Fremantle after fatal coronavirus outbreak on board", "WA eases coronavirus restrictions to allow 10-person gatherings", "Premier reveals restaurants, regional borders to reopen", "WA unlocked to travellers as almost all regional restrictions set to end for long weekend", "One in four metre square rule set to be scrapped in WA next weekend", "WA eases restrictions as NSW residents urged to avoid travel to Melbourne as it happened", "WA bars, cafes, restaurants and festivals to return to 100 per cent capacity", "Complacency blamed as WA's phase five restrictions pushed back to August", "Phase 5 restrictions in WA delayed by weeks", "Easing of coronavirus restrictions delayed as WA remains on 'high alert' due to Victorian outbreak", "Perth Royal Show axed as WA's coronavirus phase 5 restrictions pushed back by two months", "Coronavirus crisis: Mark McGowan reveals delay to phase five restrictions due to outbreak threat", "WA venues to adopt mandatory contact register from December 5 amid coronavirus risk", "COVID lockdown announced for Perth and South West after quarantine hotel worker tests positive", "NSW orders West Australian arrivals into five-day lockdown to stop spread of virulent UK strain", "States begin responding to WA coronavirus case, Queensland, NT, Vic, ACT declare affected region a hotspot", "WA Premier says masks will remain compulsory in Perth despite lack of new COVID-19 cases", "Masks off as COVID-19 restrictions lift in Perth, Peel regions amid no new cases", "WA coronavirus lockdown ends, Premier Mark McGowan unveils $43m package to help small businesses", "Perth lockdown for three days will see Anzac Day services cancelled, residents urged to stay indoors", "Lockdown ends in Perth and Peel as no new community cases recorded", "Trans-Tasman bubble: Travel paused between New Zealand and Western Australia due to Covid-19 outbreak", "Hotel security guard, household members test positive to COVID-19 in WA", "Western Australia regions of Perth and Peel face nervous wait as Premier Mark McGowan flags possible lockdown", "WA Premier Mark McGowan announced new restrictions as COVID cases climb", "Police access SafeWA app data for murder investigation, prompting urgent law change", "WA to move to phase five of COVID-19 plan as hospitality restrictions removed", "State-by-state travel restrictions as NSW outbreak grows", "WA Health authorities report woman's death in hospital, vaccine history sent to TGA", "COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report - 08-07-2021 @ Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)", "NSW woman's blood clot death linked to AstraZeneca vaccine", "Restrictions imposed on Perth, Peel region after woman tests positive for COVID-19 after NSW trip", "Perth and Peel plunged into lockdown after another local coronavirus case detected", "How life will change on WA border open date, when a raft of COVID restrictions will take effect", "Western Australia to reopen border on 5 February after almost two years sealed off from the world", "Mark McGowan delays WA border reopening indefinitely over Omicron fears", "WA records one new local case of COVID-19 following Perth Mess Hall rave", "Eased public health measures from 6am, Tuesday 4 January", "WA mask mandate extended in wake of growing backpacker COVID-19 cluster", "Tasmania and ACT elevated to high risk under WA's controlled border", "COVID-19 coronavirus: Controlled border", "Masks reintroduced as WA records five new local COVID-19 cases amid Omicron spread in Perth", "Mask mandate extended to South-West as doctors call for stricter restrictions to tackle Omicron", "Premier Mark McGowan announces delay to WA border opening amid fears Omicron will 'cripple' state", "WA records 10 new COVID-19 cases, but testing numbers plunge on Australia Day public holiday", "WA border opening date is March 3, as Mark McGowan announces new COVID restrictions", "WA COVID state of emergency laws pass first hurdle after bitter debate", "WA's COVID-induced state of emergency is ending. The University of Queensland stopped all teaching for the week after three students tested positive for the virus. There has been one death in the state. Specifically, from 4pm today the following facilities will be closed . WA Premier Mark McGowan flanked by Health Minister Roger Cook and Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson. [133] (See 19 July in COVID-19 pandemic in Australia#Victoria for more details.