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- With three new COVID-19 cases identified in Melbourne, the continuation of Western Australia’s open border with Victoria is beginning to look shaky
- The cases are Victoria’s first locally acquired infections in two months, and the WA Government has warned that the border arrangement may change
- If Victoria is transitioned from a “very low risk” to a “low risk” category, travellers will be required to self-isolate for a 14-day period
- WA had previously introduced travel restrictions with both New South Wales and South Australia after outbreaks of the virus emerged
- WA is currently closed to NSW due to the Sydney outbreak – only those with exemptions are allowed to enter and are required to isolate for 14 days
With three new COVID-19 cases identified in Melbourne, the continuation of Western Australia’s open border with Victoria is beginning to look shaky.
The cases are Victoria’s first locally acquired infections in two months, and WA’s Government has now warned that changes will be made to border arrangements should health experts deem it necessary.
In order for WA to classify states as “very low risk”, which allows for quarantine-free travel, there must be zero COVID-19 cases in the community for at least 28 days.
If Victoria is transitioned to a “low risk” category, travellers will be required to self-isolate for a 14-day period.
“Like we’ve previously experienced with reports of community cases in South Australia and New South Wales, WA’s Chief Health Officer will now liaise with his counterparts in Victoria and monitor the situation closely and will provide advice to the WA Government,” a government spokesperson said.
“Currently, travel into WA from Victoria under the current controlled interstate border regime remains the same, however, if changes to our border controls are required based on the health advice, they will be made.”
WA had previously introduced travel restrictions with both New South Wales and South Australia after outbreaks of the virus emerged. The hard border with SA was put in place only hours after quarantine-free travel was enabled, but the restriction was lifted on Christmas Day.
WA is currently closed to NSW due to the Sydney outbreak – only those with exemptions are allowed to enter and are required to isolate for 14 days.
