Strengthening border controls with Queensland to keep WA safe

• Effective 12.01am Monday (December 13), Queensland will be elevated to 'low risk'
• Travel only permitted with 14 days of self-quarantine, COVID-19 testing and all travellers must be double dose vaccinated
• Cautious approach follows community spread in Queensland
• Effective Monday, December 13, Queensland will also have relaxed quarantine requirements with COVID-positive jurisdictions 

Based on the latest health advice, Queensland will transition from 'very low risk' to 'low risk' border controls under Western Australia's controlled border effective at 12.01am Monday, December 13, 2021.

 

The elevated risk level has been put in place following the escalating

situation in Queensland with continuing community cases.

 

The elevation is part of a cautious approach as Queensland will also have relaxed quarantine requirements with COVID-positive jurisdictions.

 

The 'low risk' setting for Queensland means travel is only permitted on the following strict conditions:

• be double dose vaccinated (for eligible people);
• present for a COVID-19 test on arrival (within 48 hours) and on day 12;
• self-quarantine for 14 days in a suitable premise;
• complete a G2G Pass prior to arrival, stipulating they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and which jurisdictions they have visited in the previous 14 days;
• land arrivals to be met at the border checkpoint for a health screening and to have their G2G Pass checked before proceeding to their self-quarantine.   

Anyone who arrived in Western Australia between December 1 and 12.01am December 13 and has been at the listed exposure venues, at the specified times between December 1 and 12.01am December 13, is required to self-quarantine for 14 days and be tested immediately (within 48 hours) and at day 12.

 

It is important that recent travellers from Queensland familiarise themselves with the latest exposure sites reported by Queensland Health at https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/contact-tracing 

 

Anyone who has not been to these sites but develops any symptoms or is experiencing any symptoms, even mild, that could be related to COVID-19, is advised to get tested and quarantine until they return a negative test.

 

The WA Chief Health Officer will continue to monitor and review border controls.

 

Western Australia'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:

 

"Queensland has experienced more cases in recent days and some continue to be unknown.

 

"With community spread now being experienced in Queensland and its expected move to relax border controls and quarantine requirements with COVID-positive jurisdictions, in the midst of Omicron, we need to take caution and strengthen our border controls with Queensland.

 

"Following the latest health advice, Queensland will transition to low risk which allows for travel into WA with safe quarantine and testing arrangements.

 

"This will inconvenience people however we know border controls work to keep WA safe and they're effective in managing the risks of COVID-19 entering the community - while we don't yet have sufficient levels of vaccination coverage.

 

"As I've said, in coming days we expect to reach our 80 per cent double dose vaccination rate which means we can review the situation and confidently lock in a future date to proceed with our Safe Transition Plan next year.

 

"This is a timely reminder to get vaccinated. It will protect you, your family and your community."

 

Comments attributed to Health Minister Roger Cook:

 

"Travellers from COVID-positive jurisdictions will be able to enter Queensland from Monday without a requirement to undertake a period of quarantine.

 

"This is likely to lead to increased community spread of the Omicron variant.

 

"We have seen community case numbers increase in recent days across Australia.

 

"South Australia is cancelling senior and junior community cricket matches while NSW continues to shut schools and venues following another big increase in positive cases.

 

"Western Australia does not have any COVID in our community and we want to keep it that way until we have better vaccination coverage.

 

"Until we move to the next phase it is vital that vaccination rates increase as quickly as possible. Don't hesitate. Get vaccinated."

 

Premier's office - 6552 5000

Health Minister's office - 6552 6500