- Health advice updated following further information from Queensland
- Adjustments under WA's controlled border arrangements is effective immediately and applies to arrivals from today, 12.01am Saturday, March 27, 2021
- Low risk category means all travellers from Queensland to be tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine for 14 days
- People who have visited exposure locations must get tested and quarantine for 14 days
- Latest adjustment to controlled border based on expert health advice
Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation in Queensland, additional steps are being taken to keep WA safe.
The Emergency Management Team, including the Premier, Health Minister, Police Commissioner and Chief Health Officer, was convened late this afternoon to review new information from Queensland.
Effective 12.01am Saturday, March 27, 2021, all arrivals from Queensland will now need to complete 14 days of self-quarantine.
These new Directions also apply to those people who arrived from Queensland earlier today.
Under Western Australia's controlled interstate border travel will only be permitted from or via Queensland under strict conditions:
- 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;
- 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);
- 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;
- 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.
The transition is based on the latest health advice from the WA Chief Health Officer, who has been in contact with his counterpart in Queensland.
As indicated earlier, further border control measures would be introduced, based on updated health advice.
Directions issued yesterday, Friday, March 26, 2021, remain in place for those relevant people who arrived in WA, and continue to apply to anyone who visited the nominated locations since March 20, 2021.
For this group of people, they need to be tested immediately and self-quarantine for the full 14 days from the time they were at the high-risk location. These travellers will also be required to undertake a day 11 test.
Anyone who develops symptoms must get tested immediately and self-quarantine.
The list of locations continue to be updated as contract tracing in Queensland progresses and people can view them here: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/contact-tracing
The WA Chief Health Officer will continue to monitor the situation closely and determine if any further adjustments are required based on the circumstances in Queensland.
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 http://www.wa.gov.au
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"Based on further information from Queensland, the WA Chief Health Officer has recommended their risk rating be adjusted from 'very low risk' to 'low risk'.
"The situation continues to be monitored regularly and the State Government will not hesitate to reintroduce the hard border with Queensland if the health advice recommends that course of action.
"I understand this will cause some inconvenience however my priority is to ensure the health and safety of Western Australians and we will do what is necessary to protect the community.
"I thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time."
Comments attributed to Health Minister Roger Cook:
"Being careful and cautious has served WA so well and kept us safe from COVID-19.
"The situation continues to evolve as Queensland Health continues their contract tracing and it's more important than ever that people familiarise themselves with the specific locations listed by the QLD Government, they are getting updated regularly and if people fit this category, they must go get tested and remain in self-quarantine for 14 days.
"Be COVID safe and if any symptoms present, people should go get tested immediately.
"It's important we all heed the health advice to keep ourselves, our families and our communities safe."
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Health Minister's office - 6552 6500
