WA border closes to NSW amid COVID outbreak

Wednesday, 23 June 2021 12:02

By Marion Print

The State Government has reintroduced a hard border with New South Wales as greater Sydney grapples with a COVID-19 outbreak.

NSW has recorded 16 new cases in the last 24hrs which brings the total to 31.

Following updated advice from the WA Chief Health Officer this morning, NSW will transition to ‘medium risk’ under WA’s controlled interstate border regime.

Travel from NSW is no longer permitted, unless you are an exempt traveller.

The exemption list is limited to:

certain senior Government officials
certain active military personnel
a member of the Commonwealth Parliament
a person carrying out functions under a law of the Commonwealth
a person responsible for transport freight or logistics; and
anyone who is given approval by State Emergency Coordinator or an authorised officer.

The final category includes compassionate reasons - including those Western Australians that may have travelled to NSW recently and need to return to WA.

Exempt travellers arriving to WA from 11am Wednesday, June 23, 2021 must:

self-quarantine in a suitable premise for 14 days
present for an initial COVID-19 test within 48 hours
present for a COVID-19 test if any symptoms develop during quarantine; and
present for a COVID-19 test on day 11 after arrival in WA (if still in WA).

Anyone who has recently arrived from NSW prior to the hard border should continue to comply with their existing directions provided to them upon entry to the State.

This is anyone who has recently arrived from NSW, prior to the hard border being reintroduced and has been to an exposure site during the relevant times must self-quarantine for 14 days from their date of exposure and be tested immediately (within 48 hours) and at day 11.

Recent arrivals into Western Australia are asked to continue to monitor the NSW Health website for updated exposure locations.

More information can be found on the Department of Health's website.