Western Australia and ACT change up border restrictions

The Western Australian government has reclassified NSW and Queensland as ‘low risk’ states from today, following the latest health advice.

It means that WA’s interstate border has been adjusted to permit travel from or via both states, but under strict conditions.

Those travelling from NSW or Queensland will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days in a suitable premise and be present for a COVID-19 test on day 11 from when they arrived in WA.

Furthermore, all Perth Airport arrivals from both states need to undergo a health screening and temperature test and be prepared to take a COVID-19 test at the airport clinic, if deemed necessary by a health clinician.

Land arrivals from NSW and Queensland will be met at the border checkpoint for a health screening and to have their G2G Pass declaration checked before proceeding to their self-quarantine premise.

Travellers from these states will also need to complete a G2G Pass declaration stipulating they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and which jurisdictions they have been in over the previous 14 days.

Under WA’s health advice, a jurisdiction requires at least 28 days of no community cases until consideration can be given to reclassify them as ‘very low risk’.

The state’s Chief Health Officer, Andy Robertson, has also advised that given the unique situation in Queensland, it could transition to very low risk from 1 February.

Jurisdictions currently considered very low risk and are permitted to enter WA without COVID-19 testing or self-quarantine requirements currently include the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Tasmania.

Meanwhile, the ACT has removed Blacktown, Burwood Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, the Inner West, Liverpool, Parramatta, and Strathfield from its list of COVID-affected local government areas in Sydney.

Anyone currently in quarantine in the ACT who has visited any of the nine LGAs are no longer required to quarantine.

Cumberland is the only remaining Sydney LGA listed as a COVID-19 affected area in the ACT’s public health direction. This means ACT residents and non-residents who have been in the Cumberland LGA will still need to complete their quarantine period.

Featured image source: iStock/zetter