Western Australia to make masks mandatory for high school students and teachers

Masks will be mandatory for teachers and senior school students in the Perth, Peel and South West regions.

Western Australia recorded no new cases of Covid on Sunday, both within the community and in hotel quarantine. 

Schools across the state will resume on Monday.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said while the state is tracking well, it’s still too soon to lift all restrictions. 

‘These are all encouraging numbers for WA. Please keep getting tested – let’s not take our foot off the pedal now,’ he said.

WA will ended its tough five-day lockdown of the Perth, Peel and South West regions at 6pm on Friday. 

The lockdown was sparked by one case in a security guard at the Sheraton Four Points hotel who unwittingly roamed the streets of Perth while infectious. 

WA Premier Mark McGowan said while the state is tracking well, it’s still too soon to lift all restrictions

Officials are continuing to investigate how the guard contracted the highly contagious UK strain of the virus from an infected guest.

Mr McGowan previously announced a range of restrictions will remain in place for Perth and Peel until 12:01am on Sunday February 14.

All residents, including teachers and high school students, must wear masks while outside of their homes except for during vigorous outdoor exercise.

A 20-person limit will be imposed on all private indoor gatherings while a four square metre rule and a cap of 150 attendees will apply to hospitality and retail venues and weddings.

Restaurants, pubs and bars can only have seated service and only essential travel is permitted in and out of the combined Perth and Peel regions.

No restrictions will remain for the South West.