Travel from South Australia into WA will not be allowed unless travellers meet strict exemption criteria, to protect Western Australians and reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering our State.
The new arrangements have been put in place based on the latest health advice, following the concerning and evolving COVID-19 outbreak in South Australia.
The measures are in addition to the quarantine and COVID-19 testing requirements implemented on November 15 2020. Anyone who arrived in Western Australia from South Australia on Saturday, November 14 2020 and Sunday, November 15 2020 has been contacted by WA Police and instructed to self-quarantine and undertake COVID-19 testing.
Given the size of the latest outbreak in South Australia, the Chief Health Officer has determined that South Australia has moved from the ‘very low risk’ category to the ‘medium risk’ category.
This is the highest rating of any other State or Territory and South Australia may move to the ‘high risk’ category very soon, pending further information on their COVID-19 outbreak.
From 6pm tonight, further restrictions will apply to anyone travelling from South Australia or anyone who has been in South Australia in the previous 14 days.
Anyone travelling to Western Australia from South Australia will need to meet strict exemption criteria, in addition to the self-quarantine and COVID-19 testing requirements which commenced on November 15.
For anyone arriving by road, through the Eucla checkpoint, this system will begin 48 hours later – from 6pm Wednesday, November 18.
The exemption list for South Australia will be limited to:
- certain senior Government Officials;
- certain active military personnel;
- a member of the Commonwealth Parliament;
- a person carrying out functions under a law of the Commonwealth;
- certain specialists responsible for time critical maintenance where the skills are not available in WA (excludes FIFO);
- a person coming to WA at the request of the Chief Health Officer;
- a person responsible for transport freight or logistics;
- anyone who has been given approval by the State Emergency Coordinator or an authorised officer (this category includes compassionate reasons and specified arrangements).
That final category could include Western Australians that may have travelled to South Australia in the last few days and be considered on compassionate grounds to return.
The latest border controls will be constantly reviewed and can be tightened, extended or relaxed depending on the latest health advice from South Australia.
If an exemption is granted, they will need to undertake 14 days of self-quarantine at a suitable premise and will also be required to take a COVID-19 test upon their arrival.
If a suitable premise is not available, they will enter hotel quarantine at their own expense.
They will also be required to undertake a second COVID-19 test on day 11 of their quarantine period or at any point when symptoms develop.
Interstate transport and freight workers entering WA are still required to show evidence of having received a negative COVID-19 test result in the past five days.
If they have not been tested in the past seven days, they will be directed at the WA border to undertake a COVID-19 test within 48 hours.
They will also need to present for another COVID-19 test within seven days of their first test if they are staying in WA.
Travel arrangements as part of WA’s controlled interstate border remain the same for other jurisdictions. For more information, visit http://www.wa.gov.au
Source: WA Government