As Western Australia sits at the crest of its COVID wave, Premier Mark McGowan today delivered the news many struggling businesses have been hanging out for.
Most level 2 restrictions are being relaxed from next Thursday.
Here's what you need to know about the latest set of rules as WA enters the next phase of the pandemic.
Where will I need to check in?
In a first for West Australians, mandatory check-ins will be done away with in many places.
Signing a contact register or using the QR code to check-in with the Service WA app will only be required in certain places like cafes, restaurants and bars, as well as hospitals.
Those are places which will also retain mandatory proof of vaccination.
But places like supermarkets will no longer require people to check in.
How are close contact rules changing?
West Australians who have already had COVID were previously exempt from being classified as a close contact for eight weeks after their infection.
From Thursday, that exemption period will grow to 12 weeks, brining WA into line with national standards.
The indoor mask mandate will remain, including for children in years three and above.
What about private gatherings?
Indoor home gatherings will be capped at 30 people, up from 10.
But the limit of 30 includes residents, so if three people live in the house, they can have 27 guests.
Private outdoor gatherings will be limited to 200 people, with a two-square-metre rule in place.
What capacity limits will apply?
The two-square-metre rule is here to stay for hospitality venues, nightclubs, fitness venues, entertainment venues, hair and beauty services, as well as for Perth’s Crown Casino complex.
In hospitality venues and nightclubs, the capacity limit will be increased from 150 to 500.
That will be in place for two weeks, and from April 14, the government hopes to get rid of the cap altogether.
Standing service will also be allowed to resume.
Can I go to the concerts or the footy?
The capacity limit at theatres, cinemas and major stadiums like Perth Arena and Perth Stadium will be increased from 50 to 75 per cent.
That means about 45,000 people will be able to watch the Eagles and Dockers derby at Perth Stadium instead of 30,000.
But you won't be required to wear a mask at the game.
What about hospitals and aged care homes?
Strict visitor rules will stay at hospitals, aged care centres, and disability care facilities.
The vaccine mandate for venues and workers also hasn't changed.
Nor have test and isolation settings for critical workers, schools, and childcare centres.
Will restrictions be eased further?
Hopefully soon.
Mr McGowan said the impact of changing restrictions would be monitored and the government intended to ease restrictions even further as soon as it was safe to do so.
"After these measures kick in, we'll monitor the infection rate, but also monitor the hospitalisation and ICU rates," he said.
"Hospitalisation and intensive care are the best measures to watch as to the impact of the virus in Western Australia."
"Because our situation is different, because we have such high vaccination levels, many people are contracting Omicron but they're really not getting very sick."
Mr McGowan said while cumulatively, WA had recorded more COVID cases than expected, hospitalisations had remained low.
