WA must avert more lockdowns: hotels chief

Pubs and restaurants in Western Australia are willing to live with COVID-19 restrictions if it means avoiding financially crippling lockdowns.

Australian Hotels Association WA chief executive Bradley Woods estimates the industry lost $10 million a day during the five-day lockdown that was hastily implemented in metropolitan Perth, the Peel region and the South West.

Authorities had feared a significant outbreak after a hotel quarantine security guard unwittingly roamed the streets of Perth while infected with the highly contagious UK strain of the virus.

But no other cases were detected from almost 50,000 tests before the lockdown was lifted on Friday evening.

A range of restrictions remain in place, including a limit of 150 patrons at pubs and restaurants and mandatory face mask use for all residents while out in public.

The hospitality sector is hopeful it can return to normal operations as quickly as possible.

But Mr Woods believes venues would be willing to trade off retaining some restrictions into the future for averting another lockdown.

"The hospitality sector's suffering across the board because of the lockdown," he told AAP this week.

"In lieu of having to go into lockdown again, the industry would certainly be wanting to work with government on what measures can be put in place to avoid total shutdown ... but to have stepped-up restrictions as an alternative to full lockdown."

Mr Woods said hospitality venues faced unique challenges in reopening after the lockdown, including dealing with spoiled food, securing fresh produce, rostering staff at short notice and implementing any new safety measures.

Almost 180,000 hospitality workers have completed COVID safety training but the new restrictions are likely to take some adjusting to, particularly given WA had gone 10 months with no community cases prior to the lockdown.

"I think it's fair to say the community became a little bit more loose in terms of the safeguards," Mr Woods said.

"We've got to remind patrons and staff to re-adopt best practice with respect to social distancing and some of those really important COVID-19 safeguards around contact and engagement, cleanliness, sanitation systems."

With Perth enjoying summer and in the midst of its annual festival season, Mr Woods expects people will still be keen to attend venues.

"People don't like being locked up, they want to get out and about, so there'll be a high level of built up desire for people to do that," he said.

The premier has announced a $500 offset on electricity bills for small businesses and charities affected by the lockdown.

It is expected to be taken up by about 85,000 customers and provide, on average, up to two months of bill relief.

Mr Woods had advocated for some form of assistance, pointing to the example of cash grants being offered to small businesses following a lockdown of Sydney's northern beaches.