Tough restrictions on retailers and travel in the state's North-West have been extended for another week.
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The restrictions, which saw the closure of all non-essential businesses across eight North-West and West Coast municipalities, were due to expire on Sunday but on the advice of health authorities have now been extended until May 3.
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Premier Peter Gutwein said this would mean schools in the North-West would not resume for the first four days of Term 2 next week.
"Teachers will continue to undertake preparations for Term 2 from home and school sites will be closed," Mr Gutwein said.
He said students who lived in the North-West who attended school outside their municipality should also stay home.
Mr Gutwein said this was not a decision which was made lightly and he knew many in the North-West would be unhappy.
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"If there was another way, we would take it," Mr Gutwein said.
"While there are certainly promising signs the North-West is coming under control, an additional week of deeper testing will ensure that we have a very clear understanding of what's occurring right across the Coast and it will be our best opportunity to ensure we have this outbreak completely under control."
Public Health deputy director Scott McKeown said the focus during the additional week of restrictions needed to be on ramping up COVID-19 testing.
"We need to be confident there is no wider community spread," Dr McKeown said.
"We don't think it's safe for schools to return and restrictions on businesses to be lifted."
Dr McKeown said increased testing would give confidence to any decision to ease restrictions.
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