Just announced: WA bars, hotels and wineries will open on Saturday June 6

Premier Mark McGowan has just announced a further relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, starting Saturday June 6. Venues will now be able to host up to 100 patrons per separate area or room, and the spacing restriction has been reduced from 4 to 2 square metres per person, making re-opening viable for a significant portion of the industry. Wineries will also be allowed to host tastings without being required to serve food, and Rottnest Island is to re-open to the WA general public. While welcome, now the decision has been made, there is some question as to why the industry has to wait another week for these restrictions to be lifted. We also eagerly await further detail about the government’s tolerance for community transmission before reinstating restrictions, so as to provide much-needed certainty to an industry already under duress. Details provided by the Minister's Office as follows:

• Phase 3 will come into effect from Saturday, June 6
• Non-work indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people at any one time, per single undivided space, up to 300 people in total per venue (100/300 rule);
• Food businesses and licensed premises may operate with seated service;
• Alcohol may be served without a meal at licensed premises (patrons must be seated);
• Food courts can reopen with a seated service;
• Beauty therapy and personal care services to reopen;
• Saunas, bath houses, float centres, massage and wellness centres to reopen (100/300 rule);
• Galleries, museums, theatres, auditoriums, cinemas and concert venues can reopen (during any performance, the patrons must be seated. (100/300 rule));
• Rottnest Island to reopen to the WA general public;
• Perth Zoo to open with no patron limit for the whole venue (the 100/300 rule applies to indoor spaces and cafés/restaurants);
• Wildlife and amusement parks can reopen (100/300 rule);
• Arcades (including pool/snooker, ten pin bowling, Timezone), skate rinks and indoor play centres to reopen (100/300 rule);
• Auction houses and real estate auctions can reopen;
• TAB and other gaming venues (other than the Casino which is being considered separately) are permitted to reopen;
• Full contact sport and training is now permitted;
• Playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gym equipment are permitted to be used;
• Parents/guardians will be able to enter school grounds to drop off or pick up their children;
• Gyms, health clubs and indoor sports centres will be able to offer the normal range of activities, including the use of all gym equipment (gyms must be staffed at all times and undertake regular cleaning).

Image credit: Hadiqa.