The Western Australia (WA) government has said it will allow unvaccinated parents to visit their sick children in hospital as the state’s sweeping vaccination mandates kick in. From Jan. 31, West Australians are no longer allowed to attend hospitality, entertainment, or fitness venues unless they demonstrate proof of vaccination—one of the broadest proof of vaccination requirements in the country. However, this also includes visitors to hospitals and aged care facilities, a point that sparked concerns parents would no longer be able to stand beside the hospital bed of their children unless they were vaccinated. But the WA Department of Health has since outlined that one “essential visitor”—a parent, carer, or designated guardian—would be allowed to stay with the child and be exempted from the restrictions. “They stay with the child, I mean we have children that need a parent or a carer,” a Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) spokeswoman told The …