Western Australia looks at early raising of Coronavirus restrictions

Having experienced a low number of infections in the state, the Western Australian Government the first considering lifting its Coronavirus restrictions within weeks and allow social gatherings, schools and businesses to go back to normal.

With Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison having flagged a potential easing of social distancing restrictions in four weeks after meeting with the National Cabinet yesterday, Western Australia is looking, over the coming weeks, to be the first state to life certain restrictions and allow social gatherings, schools and businesses to go back to normal.

Commenting on infections in the state, Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan said Coronavirus cases had been “driven … down to being nearly non-existent”, noting that now “we’ve got to work out how we get our economy back up.

“You’re just constantly looking at what the angles are, what the options are, what the potential pitfalls are.

“But it’s a very serious game of chess because people’s health is at risk.”

Curtin University epidemiologist and pro-Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences Archie Clements said a phased approach to relaxing restrictions was most likely.

Professor Clements told Daily Mail Australia “that will be things like rather than having businesses closed, they might reopen things like restaurants but with a lower density of patrons.

“They might allow small community events to take place. And then I think it will be allowing things like schools to go back, and I’m hoping that will be sooner rather than later.

“All in all, we’ve probably avoided the worst of the epidemic and I think with the current numbers it’s likely that the epidemic will peter out in WA.”

Image: Perth's Elizabeth Quay.