Western Australia is set to transition to a safe and sensible controlled interstate border based on the latest public health advice.
Pending the latest health advice, effective Saturday, 14 November, Western Australia will enact the new controlled interstate border under the Emergency Management Act.
The existing hard border exemption system will be removed and replaced with an updated nationwide health-based threshold that allows for safe travel into Western Australia from interstate with conditions, and subject to trigger points being met.
The Chief Health Officer has recommended a 14-day rolling average of less than 5 community cases per day in each state and territory (currently being met in each jurisdiction) be required before progressing to the new border controls.
Travellers from states and territories that are deemed ‘very low risk’ with no community cases of COVID-19 in the past 28 days will be permitted to enter WA and comply with conditions, including:
- must complete a G2G Pass declaration
- will be subject to a health screening and temperature test on arrival at Perth Airport
- be prepared to take a COVID-19 test.
All travellers will receive an SMS health check reminder 1 week into the stay in WA, while arrivals by land will be met at the border checkpoint for health screening and to check G2G Pass declarations.
Currently the jurisdictions that meet the ‘very low risk’ criteria include Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
Travellers from states and territories that are deemed ‘low risk’ – with less than 5 community cases on a 14-day rolling average – will be permitted to enter WA and comply with similar conditions as ‘very low risk’ jurisdictions, however, will also be required 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)
- self-quarantine for 14 days in a suitable premise
- present for a COVID-19 test on Day 11, if still in WA.
These jurisdictions currently include New South Wales and Victoria.
Remote Aboriginal community restrictions and the modified 2 square metre rule will remain in place.
The Chief Health Officer will continue to closely monitor community transmission in other states and territories into the future and will advise the WA Government if any change to our border is required to keep Western Australians protected.
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