linked to that event. in response to the outbreak, masks were mandatory at all public indoor settings and public transport, some music festivals were cancelled, and nightclubs were closed. the restrictions applied from 23 december to 4 january 2022, after which venues were able to open, but masks were still required until 6 pm on 7 january 2022. from 7 january masks were only required in higher risk places, such as hospitals and public transport. january 2022 as of 12.01 am on 3 january, wa declared tasmania and the act to be "high risk" locations. as of 5 january 2022 the northern territory was classed as medium risk, while new south wales, queensland, south australia and victoria were classed as extreme risk. from 16 january masks were again required for indoor public areas in the perth and peel regions, after five new cases of sars-cov-2 omicron variant. visitors to perth or peel from 6 january were required to wear a mask indoors if they had gone to another area. there were 81 known and active omicron cases in wa. there were 112 total active covid cases in wa, 34 quarantined in hotels, 78 self-quarantined. on 17 january mask wearing rules were extended to wa's south west region. anyone who has been in the region since 12 january must also follow the mask rule. the opening exhibition of the 2022 perth festival was cancelled because of the "current public health situation". the state's first dose covid vaccination rate was 95.3%, second dose of 87.9% for those aged 12+, and booster doses 21.9% for ages 16+. on 20 january, mcgowan delayed the reopening of the state's borders, announced on 13 december 2021 as scheduled for 5 february. the date had been based on the sars-cov-2 delta variant, but it is feared the omicron variant could "cripple" the state. the president of the australian medical association wa, mark duncan-smith, believed that the state's hospital system was not ready for the borders to be reopened. on 27 january, the mask mandate was extended to the wheatbelt and great southern regions. the mask requirement also applies to anyone who was in those regions since 20 january and has gone elsewhere. from 31 january, proof of vaccination was required for entry to hospitals, aged care facilities, hospitality and indoor entertainment venues across the state. february 2022 on 18 february, it was announced the border would reopen on 3 march for people from outside australia and triple vaccinated people from interstate. september 2022 on 21 september, the emergency management amendment (temporary covid-19 provisions) bill 2022 passed the lower house of the wa parliament after a debate that finished at midnight. the legislation was designed to allow wa to exit the state of emergency, which the state has been under since 15 march 2020—a total of 922 days as of 23 september. the major change that the legislation will bring about is that the emergency services minister will no longer be involved—as they have had to extend the state of emergency every fortnight—and that the police commissioner will be able to give themselves emergency powers if they are satisfied that covid is, or imminently will be, "of such a nature or magnitude that it requires a coordinated response" and that "there is a need to exercise powers… to prevent or minimise loss of life, prejudice to the safety, or harm to the health, of persons." statistics covid-19 cumulative cases in western australia covid-19 daily cases in western australia event cancellations the 2020 fairbridge festival was postponed for 6 months, then cancelled. whilst initially stated in june 2020 to be going ahead, the 2021 city of perth skyworks were cancelled in november 2020. the event usually has between 250,000 and 300,000 people gather to watch, but the chief health officer ruled that the event could not go ahead. in 2021, anzac day services in perth city and the peel region were cancelled when those areas entered a sudden 3 day covid-19 lockdown on 23 april.