Ashburton Community Covid-19 Information

02/09/2022

Effective Friday, 9 September, mask-wearing requirements in Western Australia will be eased with masks no longer required on all domestic flights, public transport, taxis and rideshare services.

Masks are still encouraged to be worn in crowded indoor settings where people are unable to physically distance.

These changing protocols follow the latest public health advice, however it’s important that residents remain vigilant and remember the basic public health behaviours.

To protect the community Western Australians are reminded to practice healthy hygiene, stay home if they’re unwell, test and isolate early and be cautious – especially when they visit high risk settings.

For more information visit https://www.wa.gov.au/government/covid-19-coronavirus

19/07/2022

With more COVID-19 variants spreading in the community, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of reinfection.

For more information, visit https://www.wa.gov.au/.../covid-19-coronavirus-managing... or visit WA Government

16/07/2022

A COVID-19 reminder.

If you’re a close contact and have no symptoms, it’s important you follow the following health protocols to help minimise transmission and keep the community safe.

- Work from home, where possible
- Return daily negative RATs for seven days
- Wear a mask at all times outside the home
- Avoid high-risk settings, such as hospitals, healthcare and aged care facilities, as well as large events
- You should notify your employer or educational facility

If symptoms develop at any point, you must follow the guidelines for close contacts with symptoms. You can find a link to these guidelines in the comments below.

There are a few simple steps to follow to keep those around us safe.

These include washing your hands and practising healthy hygiene, getting tested if you have symptoms, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Wearing a mask indoors is strongly encouraged.

11/07/2022

With increasing cases of new COVID-19 variants spreading in the community, the chance of reinfection is more likely.

From today, the window for potential reinfection of COVID-19 has been reduced from 12 weeks to 4 weeks (28 days) after recovery from an initial infection, based on the latest expert advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

This means that if you are experiencing symptoms and have previously had COVID-19, you will need to test for COVID-19 after 28 days of recovering. If you test positive, you must isolate again for 7 days.

We understand this will have significant impact on people and local business throughout the community, with more people expected to isolate in coming months.

For more information on the changes and support available visit: https://fal.cn/3q78t

05/05/2022

Although restrictions have eased, masks are encouraged for people who are unwell or just want to play it safe.

If physical distancing isn’t possible at the shops or large events, please feel free to wear a mask.

Please remember, masks are still required for people aged 12 years and older in the following settings:
✅Hospitals and healthcare settings
✅Aged care facilities, residential care facilities including disability service facilities and mental health residential facilities
✅Public and passenger transport, including taxis and rideshare vehicles, tour buses and school buses
✅Correctional facilities.

For more information please visit:
https://www.wa.gov.au/.../covid-19-coronavirus-what-you...

29/04/2022

From today Friday, 29 April, a number of public health and social measures have eased, including;

🔵 2sqm rule and capacity limits for venues and businesses removed
🔵 G2G Pass no longer required
🔵 Vaccination requirement for interstate arrivals into WA to be removed
🔵 Masks no longer mandatory indoors – except for those aged 12 years and older (including Year 7s) in high risk settings including hospitals, residential aged and disability care, correctional facilities, public transport, rideshare, taxi services, other passenger transport, in airports and on aircraft. Mask wearing is encouraged where physical distancing isn’t possible
🔵 Proof of vaccination removed from venues and businesses, but remains in place for residential aged care and hospitals
🔵 Mandatory workplace vaccination policy remains in place
🔵 Close contacts with no symptoms will not be required to isolate, but must wear a mask outside of the home, avoid high-risk settings, take a daily RAT test, work from home where possible, avoid non-essential gatherings and contact with at-risk people, and should inform their employer of their close contact status. Close contacts with symptoms must continue to test and isolate as per existing requirements
🔵 Residential aged care and disability care residents can have two visitors per day. Hospital patients can have essential visitors and two additional visitors per day. Proof of vaccination applies for visitors.

For more information regarding this announcement please visit: https://www.wa.gov.au/.../public-health-and-social...

26/04/2022

Effective 12:01am Friday 29 April, WA will be easing our public health measures again, returning to baseline settings.

🟠 Indoor mask mandate lifted.
No more masks required at venues, the office, or at indoor gatherings. Those aged 8-11 will no longer have to wear masks.
Going forward, masks will only be required for those aged 12 and over in:
- hospitals, aged care and disability care facilities,
- prisons and correctional facilities,
- airports and public transport,
- taxis and rideshare.

However, while they are no longer mandatory, masks are encouraged where physical distancing isn’t possible.

🟠 All capacity and gathering limits will be lifted.
No two square metre rule, no caps on visitors to the home, weddings or funerals. No limits in stadiums or major events.

🟠 WA will join other states in removing quarantine requirements for asymptomatic close contacts, provided they adhere to strict requirements.

These include wearing a mask, avoiding high risk and large gatherings, daily RAT testing, and working from home where possible.

🟠 Proof of vaccination requirement removed for entry to all venues except for hospitals and residential aged care facilities. Vaccination requirements for employment will remain.

🟠 G2G pass requirement to enter WA will end, as will the three dose vaccination requirement for domestic arrivals.
International vaccination requirements will still be determined by Commonwealth settings, so the double dose requirement for international arrivals will continue.
WA’s requirement for unvaccinated Australian international arrivals to undertake seven days of isolation will also continue, but it will be reviewed in four weeks.

🟠 Hospital visitation arrangements continue to be in place to protect our most vulnerable citizens.
Masks and proof of vaccination requirements remain and non-essential visitors will be allowed with up to two people per patient per day during visitor hours.
Essential visits for compassionate reasons, birth partners, carers/parents/guardians will also continue.

🟠 Schools will also revert to baseline settings.
This means assemblies, camps, balls and off-site events can resume.

🟠 Travel to some remote Aboriginal communities will remain restricted to protect these more vulnerable communities.

For further information please refer to www.wa.gov.au

13/04/2022

From 12.01am tomorrow (Thursday 14 April) current COVID-19 public health measures will be eased.

🟠 Contact registration will be removed across the State in all settings except hospitals.
🟠 The 500-person cap at all hospitality venues, nightclubs and function centres will be removed as planned.
🟠 Limits to home and private outdoor gatherings will be removed entirely.
🟠 RAT testing on arrival will no longer be required for international and domestic travellers. Arrivals at Perth Airport will still be provided with a free RAT that we encourage them to use, and register any positive result with WA Health.
🟠 WA’s close contact definition will be refined to align with the National Cabinet definition.
A close contact will now only be defined as a household-type contact or intimate partner of a COVID-19 case, that being a person who resides with or stays overnight in the same premises or has had more than four hours of cumulative contact with a COVID-19 case in a residential/home setting (residential care facility, congregate living facility, boarding school/house or maritime vessel), without wearing a mask, or someone directed by WA Health that they are a close contact.

People who are currently in isolation under the broader definition can leave isolation at midnight tonight, so long as they don’t have any symptoms. This only applies to people who were defined as a close contact because they:

- had at least 15 minutes face-to-face contact where a mask was not worn by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19; or
- are someone who had more than than two hours within a small room with a case during their infectious period where masks have been removed for this period by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19.

This does not apply to people are deemed a household close contact. They will still need to complete their isolation period.

For further information, please refer to https://bit.ly/3E78cau

29/03/2022

Public health measures at WA schools across the State will be eased for the start of Term 2.
These include:
➡️ Provision of one million additional RATs for school staff to use on an as-need basis;
➡️ Parents are allowed on school sites for outside school pick-up and drop-off, face to face parent-teacher meetings, attending year group assemblies, volunteering in roles outside of classrooms e.g. canteen, and uniform shop, and infrequent special events (in line with community venue capacity and density limits);
➡️ In-school special events bigger than a single class size can be held with masks and physical distancing;
➡️ Single year-group assemblies can be held in line with mask requirements;
➡️ Parents and carers can visit residential facilities, with proof of vaccination (if required), mask wearing and physical distancing;
➡️ Parents are allowed to spectate at indoor and outdoor sporting events, performances and other interschool events with masks and physical distancing; and
➡️ Gatherings of parents/carers can occur (P&Cs) with mask wearing.
➡️ Critical Worker protocols and school mask requirements for students in Year 3 and above remain unchanged.
For the full details on today’s announcement, visit http://www.wa.gov.au/.../easing-of-public-health-measures...

28/03/2022

COVID-19 Vaccination Bus Tour - Tom Price

The Roll up for WA Pilbara Bus Tour will be stopping at the Village Green in Tom Price on March 29 and 30.

Child and adult COVID-19 vaccines will be available, with no bookings required.

For more information visit https://rollup.wa.gov.au/?

24/03/2022

Eased public and social measures will come into effect from 12.01am on Thursday 31 March.

WA Government

WA will ease public health and social measures from 12:01am Thursday 31 March 2022.

As restrictions ease, please support small businesses as much as you can by going out and buying local.

These changes are only possible because Western Australians have done the right thing to keep the community and their loved ones safe.

Changes include:
🔵 Indoor home gatherings limited to a total of 30 people (including household members and children);
🔵 Private outdoor gatherings limited to a total of 200 people, with the 2sqm rule applied if the outdoor gathering is at a private residence;
🔵 Two square metre rule for hospitality venues, nightclubs, convention centres or function centres, with a cap of 500 patrons (for two weeks only);
🔵 Two square metre rule for fitness venues, entertainment venues, cultural venues, places of worship, hairdressers and beauty services;
🔵 75 per cent capacity for stadiums and seated entertainment venues (forward facing), such as theatres and cinemas;
🔵 Two square metre rule for Perth Crown Complex
🔵 Contact registers only required at venues and events where proof of vaccination requirements are in place;

The following restrictions remain in place:
🔵 Masks continue to be required for everyone aged 8 years and over (year 3 and above in schools) in all public indoor settings, including in the workplace and in all vehicles unless the person is travelling alone or with members of the same household
🔵 Visitation at residential aged care and disability care facilities remain limited to two visitors per resident per day, and essential visitors only at hospitals.

Up to date proof of vaccination or medical exemption with ID remains a requirement at certain venues and events state-wide.

For more on what you can and can't do, visit: https://www.wa.gov.au/.../public-health-measures-ease...

22/03/2022

Residents are reminded that COVID-19 vaccination clinics are currently taking place in Paraburdoo and will commence in Tom Price from tomorrow.

People aged 5+ are eligible to receive their first or second Pfizer vaccine, with boosters available to those aged 16+

Bookings can be made via https://vaccinatewa.health.wa.gov.au with walk ins also accepted.

For more information, visit https://rollup.wa.gov.au/

22/03/2022

Level 2 public health and social measures are still in place state-wide such as capacity limits for certain venues, and limits for private gatherings, weddings and funerals.

To find out more on these public health and social measures and what you and can't do, visit: https://www.wa.gov.au/.../covid-19-coronavirus-what-you...

21/03/2022

Have you tested positive for COVID-19?

You need to isolate immediately.

Next there are other steps you can take to ensure you are able to look after both your mental and physical health during your period of self-isolation.

You should:

📱 Contact friends and family and let them know you have tested positive. Ask them to check up on you via messages or calls while you are in self-isolation.
🚚 Arrange for contactless delivery of food and medicine while you are in isolation.
🎨 Find activities to keep you occupied while you are in isolation.
➕ Check that you have what you need to manage mild COVID-19 symptoms. This includes pain relief, electrolytes, facemasks, gloves, sanitiser and a thermometer.
📓 Check and track your symptoms with a symptom diary (one is published on our website).
🤒 If your symptoms worsen you should contact your GP as soon as possible or if severe call 000 immediately.
🐕🧒 Arrange for a family member or friend to take care of pets or dependants should you need to go to hospital.
📱 If you feel like you need mental health support during isolation, you can speak to someone at Beyond Blue on 1800 512 348.

For more information on how you can manage COVID-19 at home and in the community, visit https://www.wa.gov.au/government/covid-19-coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-managing-covid-19-home-and-the-community

10/03/2022

From today, Thursday, March 10, WA will move to very high caseload settings to ensure the continuity of operations for critical industries and of face-to-face school-based learning for students.

A critical worker is someone who cannot work at home and who:
♦ performs a role that is critical to the COVID-19 response
♦ is critical to the continuation of critical services that prevent significant harm (e.g. loss of life, catastrophic impacts to safety or welfare, lack of access to essential goods)
♦ performs a role that is necessary for the safe continuation of services and/or has specialist skills in specified industries deemed critical.

What do the very high caseload settings mean for critical workers?
A critical worker who is an asymptomatic close contact can attend work as a last resort, if mutually agreed between the employer and employee.

The employee will be required to:
🧪record a daily negative RAT prior to attending or on arrival at the workplace;
😷wear a surgical mask outside their home, and travel alone, if possible;
🏠when not at work, self-isolate;
👩⚕️follow symptomatic close contact protocols if symptoms ever develop;
💻 follow confirmed positive case protocols if a RAT is positive.

What does it mean for schools and childhood education?

School-based close contact protocols under the very high caseload allow asymptomatic students to:
🏫 attend primary, high school or childcare
🤸 attend after-school care and other sporting, cultural training or after school events
During this time asymptomatic students must:
😷 continue to self-isolate at all other times until the 7 days has passed
❌ not attend other non-school based social, cultural or community sporting activities

For more information about very high caseload settings visit: https://bddy.me/35ITk5l

If you are an employer who would like more information about the critical worker furloughing policy and how to register visit https://bddy.me/3MAqbJZ

09/03/2022

From tomorrow, Thursday 10 March, students in school or early childcare, who are asymptomatic but have been identified as a close contact under the existing definitions will be able to continue attending school or childcare and benefit from face-to-face learning.

Students will be able to attend school, childcare, after-school care and other sporting, cultural training or after school events on their school grounds.

If they are considered a close contact because someone in their house has COVID-19, they are NOT eligible to keep attending school under these protocols.

Under the new rules, parents and carers are no longer required to automatically quarantine with a child who is identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case.

Parents and carers of children who are close contacts need to take extra precautions and limit interaction with the close contact where possible and monitor themselves for symptoms. If symptoms arise, they should get tested immediately.

The rest of the household, including siblings who have not been identified as close contacts, can go to work or school, and should also monitor themselves for symptoms.

Information for Managing COVID-19 at home, at work and in the Western Australian community is available at www.wa.gov.au.

01/03/2022

Ready, set, G2G!

Another thing you can access easily on the ServiceWA app is your G2G Pass. This allows you to complete your mandatory G2G Pass registration for travel before entering WA, and also informs WA Police of your COVID-19 vaccination status, so that they can confirm you meet entry requirements.

You can also use the ServiceWA app to scan the G2G Pass QR code upon arrival to register your entry to WA.

Find out how to access your G2G Pass on the app here: https://bit.ly/3v4ZQgS...