Western Australia is dealing with an evolving situation regarding COVID-19.

To ensure Western Australia becomes COVID free again, WA Premier Mark McGowan has instituted a lockdown between 6pm on Sunday, January 31 running until 6pm on Friday, February 5.

Check the West Australian Government’s Covid-19 information page for the latest information on the lockdown and travel restrictions HERE.

The lockdown includes the whole Perth metropolitan area, the Peel region, and the South West region.

People in these regions are required to stay home, except for the following four reasons:

• undertake duties as an essential worker or to transport an essential worker;
• shop for essentials like groceries, medicine and necessary supplies;
• medical or health care needs including compassionate requirements and looking after the vulnerable; and
• leave to exercise, but only within a 5km radius of your home for one hour per day. You can exercise with a maximum of 4 other members of your household, as long as there’s no more than 2 adults (e.g. one adult with up to 4 children from the same house, 2 adults with up to 3 children from the same house) and masks must be worn.

Masks must be worn at all times, except within your place of residence or driving as a sole participant in your private vehicle. This includes at your workplace and on public transport.

Your employer should be contacting you immediately about their plan for your workplace. If you have concerns about how this impacts you contact your Union.

Working people are on the frontline of the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat and your employer has significant responsibilities to keep you safe during this time, including providing training and personal protective equipment when necessary.

If you are concerned about the safety measures your employer has taken to keep you and your co-workers safe call or email your RTBU representative.

If you have any symptoms, even mild, we are urging you to get tested.

If you need to get tested, contact your employer to let them know and do not attend work and self-isolate until you receive a negative test result.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Loss or change in sense of smell or taste
• Fever
• Chills or sweats
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Runny nose

In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be symptoms.

The coronavirus test is free and available to everyone. You do not need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

If you’re not sure if you should attend work, or you require any other assistance, contact your union.