Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Health
Michael Ramsey

WA scraps masks, proof of vaccine mandates

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has announced changes to WA's COVID restrictions. (AAP)

West Australians will no longer have to wear face masks or show proof of vaccination at most venues under new COVID-19 rules.

The state will also scrap quarantine for asymptomatic close contacts, in line with national guidelines, from 1201am on Friday.

But workplace vaccination mandates will remain in place, meaning the unvaccinated will still be prevented from working in virtually all industries.

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says WA's third dose vaccination rate is among the highest in the world at 79 per cent, paving the way for the removal of restrictions.

Face masks will still need to be worn by people 12 and over in hospitals, aged care and disability care facilities and on public transport, rideshare and taxis.

Those aged eight to 11 will no longer have to wear masks, while all remaining venue capacity and public and private gathering limits will be abolished.

West Australians will no longer need to show proof of vaccination at pubs and other venues but it will be required to visit hospitals and aged care facilities.

Quarantine will be scrapped for asymptomatic close contacts, who must wear face masks outside of home, avoid high-risk settings and undertake daily rapid antigen tests.

The state will also scrap G2G travel passes and no longer require interstate travellers to have had three vaccine doses.

Unvaccinated international arrivals must still quarantine for a week upon arrival, but that will be reviewed in four weeks' time.

Ms Sanderson on Tuesday said the measures were modest and targeted and could be scaled up if a new, more serious variant of the virus emerged.

Premier Mark McGowan is meanwhile on track to exit isolation as scheduled later this week after testing positive to COVID-19.

Ms Sanderson said the premier and his family were "going well" after one of Mr McGowan's children was briefly hospitalised with the virus.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.