WA NO MORE MASKS A DEADLY DISASTER IN WAITING

I am really disappointed that the WA McGowan Government has succumbed to the relentless pressure by business groups and the Kerry Stokes media outlets, with the WA Health Minister just announcing that from Friday the 29th of April face masks will no longer be required. She admitted this might mean more people getting the virus and more people needing hospitalisation. It will no doubt also mean more Covid deaths.

I have absolutely no intention visiting pubs where I might have close contact with people who selfishly decided not to get vaccinated. I am not prepared to take that risk for myself, my community and my friends. Covid is rampant in WA and Australia and it is far too early to presume we are now through it.

It is an irresponsible decision by the Mark McGowan Government, that I am disturbed about. Covid deaths can not be swept aside as acceptable collateral damage, to appease greedy business interests and the big mouth who is the Lord Mayor of Perth.

I am disgusted!

Roel Loopers

NEW WA COVID MEASURES FROM MARCH 31

The following modified Level 1 measures will take effect from March 31:

• masks required indoors for adults and children in Year 3 and above, other than the home;
• proof of vaccination to continue applying to higher-risk venues;
• contact registration requirements to only be required for higher-risk venues that require proof of vaccination, removing the need for contact registration at retail outlets and other lower-risk sites where only casual interaction is likely to occur;
• indoor home gatherings limited to a total of 30 people, including household members;
• private outdoor gatherings limited to a total of 200 people, subject to the two square metre rule if 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, galleries and museums, places of worship, hairdressers and beauty services;
• 75 per cent capacity for seated entertainment venues (forward facing), such as theatres and cinemas;
• 75 per cent capacity for major stadia, such as Optus Stadium, RAC Arena, HBF Stadium (main area) and HBF Park;
• two square metre rule for Perth Crown Complex including the gaming floor; and
• COVID Event Checklists required for events with more than 500 patrons and less than 1,000 patrons and COVID Event Plans required for large events with 1,000 patrons and above. The two square metre rule applies.

The limit of two visitors will remain per resident per day to residential aged care and disability care facilities. There will also be no change to essential visitors allowed to hospitals (e.g. for compassionate reasons such as end of life, accompanying a child or patient with complex needs, birthing partner, carer of a person with a disability, chronic illness and frailty).

Critical worker, school and childcare settings also remain unchanged.

Proof of vaccination will remain in place for a range of higher-risk venues, with a list of which venues available at www.wa.gov.au. Patrons will also be required to check-in using the SafeWA or ServiceWA app or a hardcopy contact register at these venues.

FREO CITY HELP WITH SETTING UP SERVICE WA APP

1-on-1 Tech Help sessions to help residents with their myGov-ID, Digital Identity and Vaccine Passport. Sessions will be held each day in February, bookings are essential.

If you are having trouble accessing your Vaccine Certificate, and connecting your myGOV profile to your ServiceWA app, these sessions are for you.

These private 1-on-1 Tech Help sessions can be in-person, or over the phone if you are isolating, though you must bring the below information to your appointment.

To successfully set up your Digital Identity and myGov you will need to bring:
• A smart phone or device (Apple iOS or Android), with a functional camera.
• Download the myGovID and ServiceWA app.
• Use of your personal email address, not a shared or work email address.
• 100 points of identification, which can be:
o Driver’s licence or learner’s permit
o Passport (not more than three years expired)
o Birth Certificate
o Citizenship Certificate
o Visa (using foreign passport)
o ImmiCard
o Medicare Card

If you have any questions, please call or email us at:
(08) 9432 9766 / frelib@fremantle.wa.gov.au
And / Or
(08) 9432 9676 / meetingplace@fremantle.wa.gov.au

FREMANTLE NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY COVID INACTION

Yesterday Curtin University announced that Covid vaccinations are now mandatory for staff and students. Earlier this month the University of Western Australia said that proof of vaccinations will be required of all staff, students and visitors to the campus, but it appears that Fremantle’s Notre Dame University is not as concerned as the two other universities, although the Fremantle campus is in the centre of our city, and the thousands of students and staff, who frequent local cafes and businesses, could potentially be spreading the deadly virus all over our city. Omicron has infiltrated WA, so there is no room for complacency.

When I sent questions about this to Notre Dame they stated in their reply that the situation in Sydney is very different from Fremantle and Broome and that they are “carefully managing the Covid situation…”

David Harrison, the brand new NDA ProVice Chancellor of Communications and Engagement, emailed the following:

“We are carefully managing the COVID situation in both Sydney and Fremantle in an effort to keep our campuses safe and open. As you will appreciate we are facing a very different situation in Sydney compared to Fremantle and Broome.

By way of summary, in Sydney students, staff and visitors are required to be up-to-date vaccinated as a condition of entry. That is currently not the case in Fremantle or Broome.

At all campuses we require everyone to follow a number of additional safety steps such as QR code checking in, the wearing of face masks and practicing good hygiene.”

I am a big fan of Freo’s Notre Dame and went to the Orientation Day on Tuesday, and many students and staff were wearing face masks, but not all of them by a long stretch.

I would prefer if NDA followed the lead of Curtin and UWA and make proof of Covid vaccination a requirement to be on the Fremantle campus. It’s better to be prudent and safe, rather than sorry.

Roel Loopers

ARE FREO CAFES FLOUTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH RULES?

I have been contacted by several people who are concerned that some Fremantle cafes, that have elected to only sell take-away because they don’t agree with the proof of vaccination rule, are still allowing people to consume food and drinks in their alfresco areas, albeit in take-away containers. The people who contacted me believe the cafe operators are breaking the public health order rules, and will be making reports about it to WA Police.

It feels wrong to me as well. When we had lockdowns and take-away only, cafe operators were told by Police in no uncertain terms that they had to remove tables and chairs from their outdoor areas, as people were not allowed to gather at the venues, so does that not apply now, and if not why not?

Second question is the concern people raised that some staff serving take-away do not wear a mask. Do they have to? Do they have to be double vaccinated? What are the rules?

If the Public Health Order rules are ambiguous and not clear they need to be cleared up, if they are clear but cafe operators are trying to be clever, the rules need to be enforced by WA Police. It is not fair that some flout the rules and get away with it, while others get the ire from a tiny minority of the public when they demand proof of vaccination.

The Federal Government Covid Shield site reports that 92.44 per cent of Western Australians are fully vaccinated.

Roel Loopers

SILLY CAFE SIGN TO SUPPORT ANTI VAX

I am not impressed with cafes that don’t want to ask for proof of vaccination and hence only offer takeaway, but it’s their choice and no doubt will cost them customers and money.

I’d love to see a sign going up next to this one though, just to remind us all how deadly Covid is and that millions of people have died from it, in the same solidarity sentiment as the one at West Coffee Co in Fremantle’s High Street:

WHEN ONE CAN’T LIVE WE SHOULD ALL DIE

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE PUBS LOOKING FOR PATRONS!

It is a worry that Fremantle was so quiet last evening. I don’t go out often, but when I do it is midweeks and there are always plenty of people around, but last evening was pretty dead.

There were four people in the Old Courthouse when I entered at 5pm and only my mate Bob and two young ladies entered in the next hour.

At the Sail and Anchor it was slightly busier, but just about 20 patrons at 6 pm. From there to Benny’s, which is usually quite packed on a Wednesday night, but there were fewer that twenty people in there as well.

Karl Bullers of the Old Courthouse and National Hotel told me that there had been hardly any people around this week.

So why are people not going out? Is it the fear of Omicron, the slight inconvenience of having to wear a facemask, or have they not been able to download the very cumbersome and frustrating ServiceWA app? Or might it be because holidays are over and kids are back to school?

Our local businesses need our support! Don’t let the fear of Covid stop you from enjoying your life. We can’t put our lives on hold until the coronavirus is gone. It might never be eradicated.

Roel Loopers

TO SERVE OR NOT TO SERVE? THAT IS THE VACCINATION PROOF QUESTION

According to other people I am a dogooder, a bleeding heart, a woos, a lefty, an alcoholic, a misogynist, a sycophant, a dickhead, and so on, so of course I wanted to do the right thing by my community, and decided that just showing proof of Covid vaccination on my very smart phone was not sufficient enough for someone as self important as me.

So on the weekend I compiled a folder of all my CT and MRI scans, X Rays, Ultra Sounds, and blood, urine and stool tests results. I also added the mental health assessments and psychological reports about me, and all the records my GP and dentist have on me, so staff in cafes can make a judgment to serve or not to serve me the double espresso I am so addicted to.

I am rather proud of the medical note Fiona Stanley urologist Dr Brown wrote that I have a very straight and long prostate, so I highlighted that, so no one will overlook that great and unique feature of me.

🤪 🥰 🥳 😷 🤣 😍 😇 🙄

Covid has put a strain on everyone, so I wanted to do something tongue-in-cheek, that might make my readers smile. I am absolutely in favour of the proof of vaccination mandate by the WA Government, so the above is not a rebuke of that requirement!

GET THE COVID JABS! PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY!

Roel-Loopy-Loopers

HAVE YOU GOT YOUR PROOF OF VACCINATION?!

Have you got your proof of Covid vaccination? We are required to show it from today in cafes, taverns, pubs, bars, bottleshops, museums, public buildings, hospitals, etc. so don’t leave home without it.

It is only a minor inconvenience, mandated by the WA State Government, so please don’t be nasty with staff asking you to show the proof of vaccination! Businesses can be fined up to $ 25,000 for not checking that customers have the proof of vaccination, so be considerate to them.

It’s probably a good idea for small cafes to just write down the names of regular customers who have been checked for the proof, so that it does not have to be done every time they enter the cafe.

Covid is going to stay with us for a long time and the Premier has indicated more social restrictions will be mandated soon, so let’s all work together as best as we can. We have been very lucky to live in a state where Covid has not been rampant and where loss of life has hardly occurred, so let’s keep looking after each other and our community and do what is right!

Roel Loopers

IT’S MANNA FROM HELL IN SOUTH FREMANTLE

So Manna Wholefoods in South Fremantle do not want to check proof of vaccination and will stop dine in food and coffee and only serve takeaway to be inclusive to all customers.

That is just one whole big load of spin, because what it in fact means is that Manna endorses anti vaxxers and the Pro Choice lobby.

I hope all of us who have done the right thing by our community and got the Covid vaccinations will know where not to go.

Remember that more than 95 per cent of the Freo population has been vaccinated!

Roel Loopers