Western Australia is not only closed to the rest of the world, but also to the rest of the country, with no re-opening date acknowledged. However, in welcome news to those separated from their loved ones, a calculation has predicted the date that the state may open it’s borders.
WA was set to reopen its borders to international and interstate travellers on 5 February. However, after the highly contagious strain Omicron spread through the Eastern states of Australia, the WA premier Mark McGowan backflipped on the decision and kept the borders shut.
“From 12.01am on Saturday 5 February, the hard border will stay, with new settings that will have a focus on both safety and compassion,” McGowan said.
He added: “So far, the science shows that people with only two doses of a COVID vaccine have only a four per cent protection against being infected by the Omicron variant,” Mr McGowan said.
“With a third dose, it can provide a 64 per cent protection against infection.”
McGowan has mentioned that he wants the state to get to a stage where 80% or 90% of the population have booster shots, before he will open the borders.
Last night Ben Harvey did the calculations on Up Late with Ben Harvey, and he believes the date that 80% of West Australian’s should have had their booster shots – and consequently, the borders will open – will be in March.
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“Back on January the 20th the Premier said the aim was to get the third dose vaccine rate up above at least 80 per cent.
“He said today (Wednesday) that 37.6 per cent of West Australians 16 and over have had their third dose.
“He also said boosters are increasing at 1 per cent per day… at that rate we should hit 80 per cent in 43 days.”
43 days from the yesterday’s date will be Thursday, the 17th of March. So, if all goes to plan then many families may be able to reunite in time for Easter this year.
For more on this topic, follow the Travel Observer.
