Update to controlled border with NSW

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WA’s controlled border with NSW will be elevated.
Last updated:
NSW: Travel to WA restricted in text with a map of Australia alongside the text

Based on the latest health advice, New South Wales will be further elevated to an ‘extreme risk’ jurisdiction from 12.01am Thursday, 26 August 2021.

With case numbers continuing to increase in New South Wales, and the situation unlikely to improve significantly in the short term, the WA Chief Health Officer has determined the need to elevate conditions on NSW arrivals.

This means that under the new ‘extreme risk’ category travel from NSW to WA will not be permitted.

Under this category, the exemptions for approved travellers has been further restricted to Commonwealth, State officials, Members of Parliament, Diplomats and specialist or  extraordinary circumstances determined by the State Emergency Coordinator or the Chief Health Officer, and these approved travellers are subject to the following conditions, unless otherwise advised:

  • Undertake mandatory hotel quarantine at a State quarantine facility for 14 days at their expense
  • Undergo COVID-19 testing on days 1, 5 and 13
  • Have returned a negative COVID-19 PCR test in the past 72 hours
  • Receipt of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, if eligible.

Under the extreme risk setting, if a Western Australian returning from overseas falls into one of the above categories, is approved to enter WA and has completed 14 days of supervised quarantine in NSW they will be required to undergo 14 days of self-quarantine in a suitable premises.

The trigger for review which guides the implementation of an ‘extreme risk’ classification is a 500 case rolling average over five or 14 days, which has been met.

The Chief Health Officer will continue to monitor the situation and provide advice on border controls.

For more information, visit the Controlled border page.