In light of the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, Western Australia will strengthen its border controls to reduce the risk of the virus coming into the WA community.
This morning, WA's Acting Chief Health Officer consulted with the Victorian Government and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) to help provide updated health advice to the Western Australian Government.
Based on the latest health advice and the evolving situation, Victoria will now transition from a 'very low risk' State to a 'medium risk' State under our controlled interstate border, effective from 12.01am Friday (tonight), January 1, 2021.
Travel from Victoria will no longer be permitted, unless you are an exempt traveller. This also applies to anyone who may have been in Victoria since December 21 and has not completed 14 days in a lower risk State or Territory. The exemption list is 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;
- a person responsible for transport freight or logistics; and
- anyone who is given approval by State Emergency Coordinator or an authorised officer.
The final category includes compassionate reasons - including those Western Australians that may have travelled to Victoria recently and need to return to WA. These people will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by WA Police and will be required to complete 14 days of self-quarantine and be tested for COVID-19 on arrival and on day 11.
Effective immediately, anyone who has arrived from Victoria since December 21 or was in Victoria from December 21 and has since arrived in WA will be required to do the following:
- self-quarantine in a suitable premise until you have spent 14 days in WA;
- present for a COVID-19 test as soon as any symptoms develop;
- present for a COVID-19 test on day 11 after arrival in WA.
Anyone who has arrived from Victoria since December 21 will be contacted by WA Police with these instructions, as a result of the G2G Pass declaration system in place in WA.
As stated by Acting Premier and Health Minister Roger Cook:
"Given the evolving situation in Victoria, Western Australia needs to move quickly and responsibly to protect our State from COVID-19 entering the local community.
"Like we have seen in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia - an outbreak can get out of control very quickly and we cannot afford to hesitate.
"That's why, based on the latest expert health advice, we need to bring back the hard border with Victoria.
"I understand this is going to cause many problems for many people, but we need to take this course of action to protect all Western Australians.
"We also need everyone who arrived from Victoria since December 21 to immediately go into self-quarantine.
"These people will only be released from self-quarantine, once they have completed 14 days in WA and they have had a COVID-19 test on day 11 of their stay here.
"If you have come into contact with someone who recently arrived from Victoria, you only need to be tested for COVID-19 if symptoms develop.
"Thank you to everyone for your understanding and patience during this difficult time."
