While people across the country have welcomed the impending removal of Western Australia’s hard border on February 5, there has been a mixed response from the regional areas of the state that are now facing increased restrictions. Key points Small businesses are worried about new rules for low-vaccinated regions The extra rules include proof-of-vaccination and mask requirements But it’s also hoped the reopening brings more workers into WA The state government has warned any region that does not reach a double-dose vaccination rate of 80 per cent by the time the state’s border reopens will face tougher rules. That has left small business owners in low-vaccinated areas such as the Pilbara worried. Part-owner of the Fiorita wine bar and restaurant in Karratha, Wayne Hammond, said while he welcomed the border opening, he believed it was unlikely the necessary 12,000 people would get vaccinated by the deadline. Catch up on the latest COVID-19 news here “You’re going into Christmas season. People have got holidays planned, things are going to happen. By the time they get back from the holidays, it doesn’t leave them with enough time to get a double-vaxxed,” he said. What you need to know about WA’s reopening date Life will change dramatically when WA opens its borders to the rest of Australia and the world on February 5. Here’s how.  New restrictions for low-vaccinated regions will  include proof of vaccination required at hospitality and entertainment venues, bottle shops and gyms masks will be mandatory at supermarkets, roadhouses and takeaway services only double-dosed vaccinated travellers will be allowed to fly into the region. Mr Hammond said his business would struggle if 50 per cent of the population could no longer attend his venue. Fiorita part-owner Wayne Hammond fears extra restrictions will leave his staff “in the firing line”. Pilbara Ashleigh Davis “It’s difficult enough running a business at the moment with the minimal amount of staff that we do have,” he said. “Having to put somebody on the door, we have two entrances, you need two people on the doors ” that just puts them in the firing line.” Call for police to handle vaccination checks Mr Hammond expressed his disappointment that the onus of checking a patron’s proof of vaccination would be placed on individual venues. Mr Hammond said it should be up to police to enforce vaccination compliance. “I just don’t think it’s fair. It’s a major worry because we don’t want to be the ones arguing with people,” he said. There are calls for police to take over the enforcing of vaccination compliance. Kenith Png “If somebody’s trying to walk into your business, and you want to give them a good dining experience, you [may have to] argue with them straight off the bat before they’ve even entered your premises. “You cannot win from there. You’re going backwards.” Concerns over administering vaccine Rural Doctors Association Australia chief executive Peta Rutherford said a lot of work needed to be done to raise the Pilbara’s vaccination rate. “One of the challenges in our rural and remote communities is that the access may be at a GP or chemist, but it can be quite limited,” she said. “They’re trying to fit that work in with everything else they do.” Boosting vaccination rates in Western Australia’s remote communities is proving to be a challenge. Kimberley Jacquie Lynch Ms Rutherford said regions like the Pilbara did not have easy access to COVID-19 vaccines through walk-in clinics, mass vaccination hubs or pop-up locations such as Bunnings stores. “In some of these more remote communities, we’re seeing teams flying in to do a two- or three-day blitz but, if someone wasn’t available, for whatever reason ¦ then they’ve missed out,” she said. Businesses eye workforce boost As the Pilbara contends with potential new rules, businesses in other regions are just glad to have a reopening date. Regional Chambers of Commerce chief executive Kitty Prodonovich said businesses were hopeful that relaxing the border would mean more workers would be available to take up jobs in WA. In just over seven weeks, travellers from across Australia will be invited back into WA. AAP Dan Peled “People can start coming in and, hopefully, start alleviating the worker shortages,” she said. But, she said, the major issue would be where to house any new arrivals, with few houses available to rent or buy. “The other issue of course, in regional WA, is just the lack of housing,” she said. “Part of that is to do with the skills shortage because, even if we are talking about building houses or constructing short-term accommodation, we need those people to do that.” Mixed reaction from Karratha community One Karratha worker, Lisa, thought tougher restrictions in the Pilbara would be a good incentive to get unvaccinated people over the line. “Once the borders open, there is going to be COVID here, so [the measures] are only really to keep everyone from dying or ending up really sick in hospital. And I think people don’t get that,” she said. The February 5 reopening will let fly-in-fly-out worker Lisa see her family on the east coast again. Pilbara Ashleigh Davis For Lisa, who does fly-in-fly-out work in Karratha, open borders meant she could see her family on the east coast again. “It’s not been around. People don’t see why it affects them because it’s not been part of the community, it’s not been part of WA,” she said. “I mean, if your loved ones aren’t getting sick and are not in hospital, why are you thinking about getting a vaccination?” about COVID vaccines There is talk about a fifth COVID vaccine, but how many should I already have and who is eligible? WA’s uptake of latest COVID-19 booster lags as second-lowest in Australia RNA vaccines rose to prominence during COVID, but we’ve only scratched the surface of their potential Fellow Pilbara resident Dianne was against forcing people to prove their vaccination status. Karratha resident Dianne says restrictions will leave pro-choice people unable to socialise.  Ashleigh Davis “I think everyone should have a choice whether they get the jab or not and I think pushing it on to people, making them have to have it, especially children, I think that’s taking away our freedoms,” she said. “Pro-choice people will be unable to socialise, and businesses will lose money and they might have to jack up the prices. “So, then you’re looking at those who have the vaccine paying extra to try [to] keep businesses open.” Lydia said stricter measures in the Pilbara were necessary to keep people safe. Lydia says most of the people she knows are vaccinated. Pilbara Ashleigh Davis “I don’t mind [showing a vaccination certificate] because I think the main thing is that we’re safe,” she said. She said most of the people she knew were vaccinated, and those who were not were either ineligible for health reasons or had fallen victim to online conspiracy theories. “I think they do too much googling and they think that there’s a problem with vaccines in the first place,” she said. “But I think, overall, vaccines are very important.” Loading… Read our full coverage on COVID-19 here Loading…