Coronavirus WA: Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt reveals no new cases of COVID-19 across Australia

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has revealed there were no new COVID-19 cases across Australia overnight, raising the prospect of the Perth and Peel lockdown lifting at midnight as planned.

Premier Mark McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook are slated to hold a press conference at 12.30pm.

But Mr Hunt beat the Premier to the good news during his own media appearance shortly before midday.

“Australia has recorded zero community cases in the last 24 hours,” he said.

“Each case matters and to have zero cases after much focus on this on the weekend, in a world of over 800,000 cases a day, draws the comparison between a world in pandemic and an Australia in control.”

Mr McGowan yesterday foreshadowed some restrictions would remain even in the case of no new infections, as was the case following the last lockdown at the end of January.

Following that outbreak – which also occurred when the virus leaked from hotel quarantine – West Australians were required to continue wearing masks after the lockdown was lifted until 14 days after the initial case of transmission.

The 4qsm rule was also temporarily re-instated and the maximum size of gatherings limited to 20.

Mr McGowan will this afternoon also reveal whether public schools will open to all students tomorrow.