From 2 to 6 March, the doctor had consulted approximately 70 patients at The Toorak Clinic in Melbourne and two patients at an aged-care facility. 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. [191], On 17 December, the Victorian ombudsman Deborah Glass, tabled a report in the Victorian Parliament in which she found the 4 July lockdown of public housing towers in Melbourne breached human rights laws. [11] Within the Kimberley region, movement was further restricted to prevent travel between each of the four local government areas. [29] West Australian health minister Roger Cook has informed the public that the Western Australian Department of health is postponing upgrades at Peel Health Campus to accommodate patients with the virus. Residents could receive vouchers worth up to A$40 per day. [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. No patient zero was found for this outbreak. When the virus was first identified in China in late 2019, lockdown seemed extreme. The current rules allow for: Social gatherings of up to 10 people, both indoors and outdoors. As per WA State Government Advice, the Perth and Peel lockdown will end as scheduled at midnight tonight (12:01am Saturday 3 July). [160] On 13 January 2021 that event too was cancelled. [12], On 29 February, after a Queensland case of an infected person returning to Australia from Iran, the government extended the enforced quarantine to people who had been in Iran, requiring them to spend a fortnight in a third country before being allowed into Australia. One result was that AFL spectators were not allowed at the Western AFL Derby on May 2 at Optus Stadium. The mask requirement also applies to anyone who was in those regions since 20 January and has gone elsewhere. Since eliminating community transmission, the state government has taken the lead from the federal government in honing WA's protective measures, including tightening WA's border closure with Victoria and New South Wales following a second wave of infections, and introducing new measures to test those in hotel quarantine and truck drivers, who pose the highest threat of reinfection. Retail shops like Bunnings are closed for the first time. [114][115][116], On 2 July, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the "Judicial Inquiry into Hotel Quarantine Program". Two of his seven housemates, both food delivery drivers, then tested positive. On 16 March, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of emergency until 13 April. People queued for pubs and shops that opened at. ), On 20 July, the number of daily overseas arrivals allowed at Sydney Airport was reduced from 450 (since 5 July) to350. And there is still the danger of another lockdown as 123 days remain before all adults are due a first dose. Residents in these postcodes had to comply with the four acceptable reasons to leave their houses: shopping for essentials; for medical or compassionate needs; exercise in compliance with the public gathering restriction of two people; and for work or education purposes. [48] On 28 June, a 4-day lockdown was declared, requiring people to stay home except for essential work, shopping or medical appointments. Five security guards on contract from Unified Security also tested positive, as did members of their families. I don't have any criticism for what they've done.". [45] On the same day, the cruise ship Ruby Princess discharged 2,700 passengers in Sydney. It will oversee all parts of the Victorian quarantine program. 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. Monday, March 23, 2020. Western Australia (WA) confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on 21 February 2020, and its first death on 1 March. [56][57] The NCCC's role includes providing advice on public-private partnerships and coordination to mitigate the social and economic impacts of the pandemic. [88] On 10 May, the ACT was again free of active COVID-19 cases. 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. The image frame bears the inscriptions "AUSTRALIAN WEDGE TAILED EAGLE," "2023 1 . The patient was tested and received treatment in Melbourne. There are currently 14 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Perth metropolitan hospitals, with six in ICU. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [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]. This brought COVID-19 related deaths at the nursing home to nineteen and the national death toll to 100. The outbreak, which includes 12 cases to date, could not be ruled out as having been sparked by two women who allegedly lied on their border declaration passes to enter Queensland in late July after visiting Melbourne. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor) There were concerns that the upgrade would temporarily halve the Emergency Department (ED) waiting room capacity, preventing isolation of ED patients from patients with the virus. [54] On 28 March 284 passengers had tested positive. [140] The increased restrictions included a curfew across Melbourne from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting immediately,[141] while other changes that took effect from 8 August were that abattoir production was reduced by a third and poultry production by one fifth to allow for reduced worker numbers. [194], By 19 December 23 new cases were reported in the Northern Beaches area. Nonetheless, on August 14, WA introduced mandatory masks and testing for truck drivers. This brought the total number of cases within the Northern Beaches cluster to 66. 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. [7], By 6 February, three returning members from a tour group in Wuhan were identified in Queensland. In 2021, Anzac Day services in Perth city and the Peel region were cancelled when those areas entered a sudden 3 day COVID-19 lockdown on 23 April. This included those who had been in Perth or Peel since 17 April. The CQV Commissioner will be supported by three Deputy State Controllers, two have been appointed,[188] while as of 15January2021[update] the third Controller position was being advertised. [80], On 21 May, the Northern Territory had also announced that there were no more active cases left in the jurisdiction. . Galleries, beauty services and gyms allowed to reopen. [45], Still on 18 March, the Northern Territory government announced an economic stimulus package of A$60million. Start date End date Length (days) Start date End date Length (days) Start date End date Length (days) . [46], On 18 March in Tasmania the Agfest agricultural field day, set for 79 May, was cancelled[47] and replaced by an online event that ran from 728 May,[48], On 19 March, Celebrity Solstice docked and contributed a further 11 cases to NSW figures by 2 April. 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. South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said that the government would be "looking very carefully at what consequences there are going to be", although South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said that the man would likely not face charges as there was "no penalty associated with telling lies". [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. The University of Queensland stopped all teaching for the week after three students tested positive for the virus. "If we had had a number of cases coming across from the eastern states, Id be confident we would have picked them up and there would have been contact tracing and local containment, but we would have prolonged the economic consequences because it would have meant the internal easing of restrictions would have had to have been delayed," Professor Clements said. [173][174], On 1 November 2020, Australia recorded zero cases of community transmission nationwide for the first time since 9 June 2020. In WA, three hotel quarantine security guards became infected with coronavirus, but their infections did not lead to an outbreak. 31 March 2020 COVID-19 update - 31 March 2020 The Department of Health has reported nine new cases of COVID-19 overnight, bringing the State's total to 364. Australia's coronavirus lockdown rules and restrictions explained Read more This is the first 50 days of the shutdown. Saturday 7th Global cases hit 100,000 At the time, just 3,400 people had died from the virus. [5][6] He died on 1 March, becoming the first death due to COVID-19 in Western Australia. [7], On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. [192] Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly had designated the region a COVID-19 hotspot in line with the National Cabinet's guidelines, which designates a metropolitan area a potential hotspot if it registers 30 or more community transmissions within three days. By Sarah Swain. There has been one death in the state. Gatherings of up to 100 people permitted indoors, and 300 outdoors. [105] Victoria's Chief Health Officer indicated that "a very significant proportion of [Victoria's second wave of] cases were linked to hotel quarantine. 3:35am Apr 27, 2021. Sir Peter Fahy, the former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said the approach taken by Mr Hancock and other ministers during Covid caused 'huge resentment'. 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 . From 22 June, households could again only have five visitors; and most easing of restrictions that were to take place were postponed. [75], On 6 April, the Department of Health revealed that 2,432 people recovered from the infection as the federal government started reporting recovery statistics. On Sunday 2May, McGowan also announced a number of new restrictions, including that nightclubs were to be closed immediately. (Nine / Supplied) Wednesday 11th [37] The lockdown ended on 26 April, as originally scheduled, with no new case of community transmission. [178][179], On 16 November South Australia reintroduced "a number of significant restrictions" after an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. [101], On 17 May, Victoria announced two further business sites had been shut down due to a suspected case at each. [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. [60] On 27 July, the Prime Minister renamed the NCCC, to the "National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board" (NCC) to better reflect the advisory nature of the body. [15] The upgrade has been postponed to 1 October 2020. From 11.59pm on 27October, people no longer required a reason to leave home, all retail, restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars were allowed to open with capacity limits, beauty, personal services and tattooing will reopen, outdoor community sport for under 18 and outdoor non-contact sport for adults recommenced, a maximum of 10 people were allowed to attend weddings, a maximum of 20 mourners allowed to attend funerals and faith and religious gatherings allowed to resume, subject to patron limitations. [77][78] On 14 April, the outbreak was linked to an infected staff member with minor symptoms, but who attended work for six shifts. China accounted for 3000 of the deaths at the time. [27][28], Later that day, an initial $17.6billion stimulus package was unveiled by the Prime Minister to "protect Australians' health, secure jobs and set the economy to bounce back" from the crisis. [61], In late July, businessman Clive Palmer claimed that the closing of the borders by the Western Australian government was unconstitutional and he launched a legal challenge in the Federal Court. From 5December, venues in WA were required to keep a register of patrons and staff for the purpose of contact tracing. Masks are now required. He urged Palmer to withdraw. [147], On 22 August, national COVID-19 deaths exceeded 500, after 17 deaths in Victoria, whose state toll was 415. [159], Canberra's 2021 Summernats 34 car festival was "delayed" in late September 2020 until January 2022. The much smaller, 5,000 patrons maximum, "Summernats Rev Rock n Roll" festival was due be held at EPIC on the 57March 2021 Canberra Day long weekend. This teacher, a woman in her 50s, was confirmed to be the partner of an individual who was on the same flight from the US that the general practitioner (GP) of Toorak Clinic was on. [26] Actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson advised that they had tested positive and were in isolation. [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. CQV is part of the government's response to the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Enquirys' interim report. 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. 41 passengers and crew tested positive to COVID-19 and were being treated in Perth hospitals. GDP is likely to have experienced a contraction from 2019 figures. Citizens are being asked to stay at home and practice social and physical distancing as much as possible. [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. "[117] An interim report was published on 6 November,[120] and the inquiry's final report was published on 21 December. His announcements comes as WA's confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped by 20 overnight to 140, as at 3pm today. Perth was deserted as social distancing measures took hold. With truck drivers one of the few workers given exemptions to travel across the country without quarantining, the risk of a similar outbreak in WA exists, but is slightly lessened due to SA acting as a buffer between the west and Victoria. [10], On 1 April, regional border restrictions were implemented across Western Australia restricting travel between regions to essential services only. [68], On the evening of 31 March, six baggage handlers from Adelaide Airport had tested positive. The Perth and Peel circuit breaker four-day lockdown will end as planned at 12.01am (July 3) based on the latest public health advice. All gathering restrictions removed, limited only by a one-person per 2 square metres rule. Lockdown extended across the nation until 3 May, with a conditional relaxation after 20 April for the regions where the spread has been contained. Non-contact recreational activities such as private picnics in the park, fishing . [195] On 19 December, Western Australia reinstated its hard border with New South Wales, no longer permitting travel from NSW without an exemption. This followed some cases of coronavirus in Victoria being linked by DNA sequencing to a breach in hotel quarantine infection control. He said this decision was taken from the . Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people were allowed. A lockdown from 6pm on 31January to 6pm on 5February was declared for the Perth, Peel and South West regions. [42], Due to the growing Bondi cluster in Sydney, from 11am on 23 June, Western Australia reinstated a hard border with NSW. They were eligible for subsidised childcare of up to 100 hours per fortnight till 4October 2020. Mark McGowan praised the Commonwealth for its withdrawal and indicated the Western Australian government would continue to fight the case. The day before, at 3pm, it was announced that 2,315 of the 5,687 confirmed coronavirus cases had recovered. By the time WA emerged from its toughest period of restrictions, which lasted between March 29 and April 28, it had unknowingly eliminated community transmission of the virus after previously recording 16 cases of unknown transmission. 10 Christmas party raged on December 18, 2020, less than 24 hours before Boris Johnson raised Covid lockdown measures to Tier 4 and ordered everyone to remain local However, the arrangement was not reciprocal Australian travellers still had to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in New Zealand. But there are at least 48 days until indoor gatherings and overnight stays are allowed. The 37-year-old male tested positive overnight on Wednesday while in quarantine. How Irish Eurovision fans can get tickets for song contest in Liverpool as release date is confirmed. [2] On 15 March, Premier Mark McGowan declared a state of emergency in Western Australia, along with a formal public health emergency. [29] Approximately 2 million people in Western Australia were affected by the lockdown. When the app was introduced in November 2020, the WA Health Minister said that only tracing personnel would have access to the data. First Day of Stay at Home Order Observances First Day of Stay at Home Order was only observed in the year 2020. [39][40] It is not known how the guard became infected, but they worked at the hotel on 24, 25 and 26 April, including on the same floor as two returned travellers who were COVID-19 positive. [179] After trials in Sydney and regional areas, full rollout was scheduled for March. [178] Two vouchers are for dining, the other two are to be spent on entertainment. Western Australia also announced two old cases. [63], From 31 January, proof of vaccination was required for entry to hospitals, aged care facilities, hospitality and indoor entertainment venues across the state. [58][59] From 12pm on this day, Australia required that Australian citizens and permanent residents seek exemptions to leave the country. 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. The clinic was closed over the weekend and patients were contacted to self-isolate. [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)". [184][185] Also on 27 November, the 2021 National Multicultural Festival in Canberra was postponed from its usual February dates to " by late 2021". Enforcement began after 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday 22 July to allow time to acquire a face covering. [81], On 13 April, the Tasmanian government closed the North West Regional Hospital and North West Private Hospital for cleaning, and put the entire staff of over 1,000 people and their families into quarantine. [124] The Victorian ombudsman later found the lockdown of the public housing towers breached human rights laws, tabling her report in Victoria's Parliament on 17 December 2020. [79] On 27 and 28 April, four residents of the home died in less than 24 hours, bringing to eleven the number of residents who had died from COVID-19 since 11 April. [38] Western Australia introduced similar measures as New South Wales, preventing schools from organising gatherings of over 500. [30], The lockdown was lifted on 5 February, but some rules such as mandatory mask wearing, and travel restrictions, were maintained in the Peel and Perth regions. The Northern Territory. Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia may refer to: Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (2020) Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (January-June 2021) Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (July-December 2021) Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (2022) Anzac Day 2020 in Isolation 2020 Credit: Jennifer Polixenni Brankin / Getty Images. Travel from New South Wales and Victoria was already restricted, so only travellers from South Australia and Tasmania are not required to quarantine.