An army of State Emergency Service volunteers has joined forces with State Government workers to help arrange the repatriation of more than 2000 returned passengers who have been quarantined in Perth.
A multi-agency team of 80 has spent the better part of this morning telephoning passengers who had completed – or were close to completing – their mandatory period in quarantine and are eligible to return home. These passengers come from regional WA, interstate and abroad.
Many, however, face delays in their return journeys due to the cancellation of flights and significantly reduced airline timetables.
This morning's multi-agency effort was designed to check the welfare of each passenger as well as gain information about their home destination and status of their return-travel arrangements.
It was led by the Department of Communities which has been assisting the Department of Health in this repatriation operation.
Deputy Chief Health Officer (Clinical Services), Dr Robyn Lawrence said the information gathered this morning would enable the State Government to work with the Commonwealth, airlines and other agencies to help secure the safe passage home for these people.
"Repatriating such a large contingent of passengers is a massive operation, especially given the disruption to so many services," she said.
"The work that was undertaken this morning is a crucial first step that will help us determine where people need to get to and how many flights we may need to secure to facilitate this.
"We are incredibly grateful to the 35 SES volunteers and Department of Communities staff members who gave up part of their Easter long weekend to help us with this work.
"It highlights the wonderful sense of community that still exists in WA, despite the very difficult situation that we all find ourselves in.
