Geraldton healthcare and business communities brace for COVID transmission after February 5 border reopening

Geraldton’s COVID caseload could hit 150 a day at the peak of community transmission when the WA border reopens, according to a local GP. The prediction comes as the Geraldton business community airs concerns about new proof-of-vaccination requirements putting the safety and livelihood of staff at risk, and people start to panic buying leaving some Geraldton supermarket shelves bare of essentials. The WA Country Health Service met with Mid West GPs on Friday to discuss ongoing preparations for community transmission after the February 5 border reopening. Midwest GP Network deputy chair Dr Ian Taylor said it was difficult to predict how many people in Geraldton would become infected. “Worst-case scenario is we get up to 100 to 150 cases a day in Geraldton at the peak, but we just don’t know, it depends on how well it is managed,” he said. “If people get sick, most cases can be safely managed at home. We don’t want our emergency departments full of unwell COVID patients when they could be treated at home.” Dr Taylor said locals should not be fearful about the spread of COVID in the community, as much work was being done behind the scenes to ensure the regions were prepared for a rise in cases once borders reopen. “The main message is not to panic. What we are aiming for in WA is a softer landing than they have had over in the Eastern States,” he said. “Our best defences at the moment are vaccination and common sense, like we have done all this time by following the health advice, wearing masks when necessary and handwashing.” From January 31, anyone unable to prove they are fully vaccinated will be prohibited from entering all hospitality venues, entertainment precincts, fitness centres, bottle shops, hospitals, and events with more than 500 people in attendance. Premier Mark McGowan said the prohibitions on unvaccinated people were to prevent at-risk West Australians from becoming infected. But Sweet Orange Productions owner Tyson Overstone said the move was another nail in the coffin for an already struggling entertainment industry. The Geraldton-based events business was due to set up two Fremantle festivals at the weekend but both were cancelled at the last minute after too many people who were not fully vaccinated applied for ticket refunds. Mr Overstone said further COVID-related cancellations would have a significant impact on events staff and patrons. “For the people who are involved in events, you can’t feed your kids and pay mortgages, and then the people who want to attend don’t get to let their hair down and have a good time. Everyone misses out,” he said. Sweet Orange Productions hosts and supports many events with upwards of 500 attendees, with Mr Overstone saying confirming vaccination status at large events would be a nightmare. “How are you going to police 500 people getting checked, let alone 10,000 people coming to an event? It is crazy,” he said. “These apps barely function at the best of times, let alone when you have got thousands of people trying to use it at the same time to try and get into an event. “It is going to cause chaos and it is going to cause the event promoters and the event staff to look bad, when a lot of the time it is not going to be their fault. “The people putting these laws in place aren’t going to pay for the security or pay for the extra staff needed to take this on.” A family-owned Geraldton bottle shop spokesperson was also concerned staff tasked with checking the vaccination status of customers would “receive flak” and abuse from people who were not double-dosed. “It is another infringement on small business,” she said. But Two Foreshore cafe owner Colin Dymond said he did not foresee any major issues with the rollout of proof of vaccination requirements. “At time of purchase, I am sure they will be able to show their vaccination certificates at the same time,” he said. “I am quite positive about it, I have downloaded the (ServicesWA) app and it works fine. I think that we just have to embrace change. . . that is the best way to look at it.” Toilet paper, bread, meat, rice and painkillers are in short supply at Geraldton’s major supermarkets as people unnecessarily bulk-buy ahead of the border reopening. This has forced the supermarkets to reintroduce purchasing limits.