On Friday, WA will take another big step in living with COVID, removing many of the restrictions people have become accustomed to as the virus spread through the state.
It's expected to come at a cost though, with another peak potentially ahead if the easing brings greater spread.
Here's what life will look like from Friday, and what happens next.
Can I throw my masks away?
Not quite.
The requirement to wear a mask in many settings will be gone from 12:01am on Friday.
But anyone aged 12 and over will still have to wear one in places like:
- public transport, including taxis and rideshare vehicles
- airports
- hospitals
- aged and disability care facilities
- correctional facilities
Of course, you can keep wearing a mask if you prefer.
"If people do want to wear masks indoors, at a restaurant for example, then they should feel comfortable doing so, and our society should welcome that," Australian Medical Association WA President Mark Duncan-Smith said.
What's happening with close contact rules?
In effect, only two groups of people will have to isolate from Friday: people with COVID, and close contacts with symptoms.
If you're a close contact but symptom-free, you're almost free to go, but with a few catches.
For the seven days you would have been in isolation, you can leave the house but only if you:
- take a RAT daily
- wear a mask when not at home
- avoid high risk settings (like hospitals and aged care facilities)
- work from home, if you can
- avoid non-essential gatherings and people vulnerable to the virus.
As the Health Minister observed, it's probably not a good idea to visit a nightclub or an elderly relative if you're in this situation.
The new rules apply to anyone who's in isolation when the change comes at 12:01am on Friday.
What about restaurants and pubs?
There are big changes for venues, including the removal of capacity limits like the two-square-metre cap.
You won't have to show proof of vaccination to get a pint or a coffee anymore, although that requirement remains for staff in certain industries.
Australian Hotels Association CEO Bradley Woods calls it "the best news that WA's hotels and hospitality venues have had in the last two years."
"It's life back to normal in hospitality, which is great news for WA, great news for attracting interstate and international visitors," he said.
Any news for travellers?
Plenty.
You'll no longer have to register for a G2G pass to get into the state, nor will you need to be triple-dose vaccinated.
International travellers will still be subject to the Commonwealth's requirements and have to be fully vaccinated to travel to Australia or hold an exemption.
Ms Sanderson says that last measure will be reviewed again in about four weeks' time.
Is anything changing in hospitals?
Hospitals, as well as aged and disability care facilities, will be one of the few places where proof of vaccination requirements remain, and you will still need a mask.
Patients will now be allowed to have two visitors per patient per day, although existing exemptions for essential visitors remain.
The Health Minister says elective surgery is slowly being ramped up, but that it largely depends on how many health workers are furloughed.
Are school assemblies on again?
They certainly are, with almost all restrictions removed on schools.
Assemblies, school balls and other events are all back on the cards under this latest easing.
And to help manage the spread, the government said they'll provide 12 million free RATs to schools and childcare centres.
Parents will be encouraged to pick them up, ready to use to test their children if they develop symptoms.
Won't this all mean more cases?
Quite possibly.
Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson reckons there might be more cases and more people in hospital in the short-to-medium term.
He says the result could be critical worker shortages and reduced school participation.
But Ms Sanderson said WA is ready to live with COVID, knowing infections could rise.
So are the rules gone for good?
Hopefully, but the government isn't ruling anything out.
Ms Sanderson's calling it the "new normal", but she says things could go either way.
If all goes well, the final restrictions could be removed earlier than planned — but a new variant could mean tougher rules have to come back.
"We have to remain agile and responsive to this pandemic," she said.
"But this is a great step forward."
