- Effective 6pm tonight, Victoria will be reclassified as a 'low risk' State
- Safe travel permitted with 14 days of self-quarantine and COVID-19 testing
- Cautious approach comes after Victoria gets situation under control
- Transition follows latest health advice and under controlled interstate border
Safe travel is set to be permitted from Victoria into Western Australia from 6pm tonight (June 11) following the latest public health advice.
Under the low risk category, travellers who have been in Victoria or have travelled through Victoria can enter WA subject to the following strict conditions:
- complete a G2G Pass declaration, stipulating they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and which jurisdictions the traveller has been in over the previous 14 days;
- self-quarantine for 14 days in a suitable premise;
- present for a COVID-19 test on day 11;
- all Perth Airport arrivals to undergo a health screening and temperature test on arrival;
- be prepared to take a COVID-19 test at the airport COVID clinic, if deemed necessary by a health clinician (voluntary asymptomatic testing available for all airport arrivals); and
- land arrivals to be met at the border checkpoint for a health screening and to have their G2G Pass declaration checked before proceeding to self-quarantine premise.
The transition is being made on WA's expert health advice that there have been no new community cases since June 9 and, as a result, Victoria currently has less than five community cases per day on a five and 14-day rolling average.
The WA Chief Health Officer will continue to monitor and review border controls should there be significant changes in the public health situation.
In light of previously reported cases from Victoria travelling to other jurisdictions including Queensland and New South Wales, any recent arrivals into WA from Queensland, New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory should continue to remain vigilant, get tested and isolate immediately if even mild symptoms develop.
Anyone who has recently arrived into WA from Queensland and has been to one of the listed Queensland exposure sites must get tested and undertake 14 days of quarantine.
Recently returned travellers from Queensland should continue to monitor the Queensland Health site.
Anyone who has recently arrived into WA from New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory and has been to one of the listed exposure sites during the relevant times is required to get tested and self-quarantine for 14 days.
Recently returned travellers from NSW and the ACT should continue to monitor the NSW Health website and the ACT Government site.
WA's border arrangements are enacted under the Emergency Management Act and failure to follow these directions will be enforceable by law, with penalties ranging from $1,000 infringements to up to $50,000 fines for individuals.
More information on WA's controlled borders is available at https://www.wa.gov.au
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"The hard border with Victoria was necessary in keeping COVID out of our community.
"I know it's frustrating and has been inconvenient for many but we need to put the health of everyone living in WA first.
"The transition of Victoria to low risk will allow for safe travel and means everyone arriving into WA who has been in Victoria or through Victoria is subject to testing and quarantine.
"Strict measures like border controls, testing, quarantining and now vaccination is our best defence when it comes to combatting COVID-19.
"I want to thank everyone who continues to follow health advice and does the right thing to protect themselves, their families and their community."
Comments attributed to Health Minister Roger Cook:
"This safe and cautious adjustment for Victoria has been recommended by the Chief Health Officer on the latest public health advice.
"While there have been previously reported cases from Victoria that have travelled to other jurisdictions, the Chief Health Officer has advised the risk to WA is very low, however, it does highlight the importance of remaining vigilant to prevent any spread of the virus or community transmission in our State.
"If you have been to an exposure site then you must heed the public health advice, get tested and self-quarantine for 14 days.
"As we've seen with other jurisdictions we all have a duty to the community, and not following the health advice can have dire consequences and has a rippling effect.
"Taking precaution, getting tested and quarantining is vital in protecting Western Australians."
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Health Minister's office - 6552 6500
