With just one Covid case, Perth goes into lockdown
A lockdown has been imposed on Perth after a quarantine hotel security guard tested positive for Covid.
It means Perth’s two million residents are under effective lockdown until 5 February.
They must stay home, except for essential work, grocery shopping or for medical reasons, said Western Australia state Premier Mark McGowan.
Perth had not recorded any new cases for 10 months until the weekend, and there had been no new cases across the country for two weeks.
Restaurants, cafes and cinemas were ordered to close and school holidays have been extended for a week.
McGowan defended the snap decision to go into lockdown with just one positive case.
"I know for many Western Australians this is going to come as a shock. We cannot forget how quickly this virus can spread, nor the devastation it can cause."
Residents in regional WA have been asked not to travel into Perth and police checkpoints are being set up.
Australia reopened its travel bubble with New Zealand on Sunday after suspending it for six days.
The federal government is beefing up precautions with all passengers coming from New Zealand being screened before and after inbound flights for at least the next 10 days.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season