This year's Anzac Day weekend was slated to be a relatively normal one, with services and marches planned across the country.
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But residents of metropolitan Perth and Peel will, once again, not be able to attend. They awoke to a raft of new COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday as a three-day snap lockdown began.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan announced the lockdown on Friday, saying it was necessary after a coronavirus outbreak in hotel quarantine led to two people spending several days in the community while infectious.
"I know this is hard to take and I wish we didn't need to be doing this," Mr McGowan said.
"But we can't take any chances with the virus."
In response, states and territories have declared Perth and Peel COVID-19 hotspots, but residents of the regions are still expected to commemorate Anzac Day on their driveways and in their living rooms.
Peel's Pinjarra RSL sub-branch president Les Giles told the Mandurah Mail dawn driveway services were a "wonderful tradition we might've started accidentally".
"I drove around town to get a feel of the driveway services and there was so many people. I was totally amazed," he said.
Meantime, Anzac Day commemorations will go ahead as planned in other parts of the country.
At the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, 4200 people are expected to attend a ticketed dawn service on Sunday, and 3000 people are booked to go to the national ceremony.
On health advice, Anzac Day services overseas will not go ahead including the Australian and New Zealand-led Anzac Day services in Turkey and the Australian services in France.
The day will still be recognised in these countries, however, with locally-based officials holding private commemorations.
In vaccine-related news, health regulators have said the United States can resume use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, ending a 10-day pause to investigate its link to extremely rare but potentially deadly blood clots.
A member of the advisory panel to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Beth Bell, said: "The benefits do clearly outweigh the risk from a population and individual perspective."
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Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
