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Coronavirus crisis: WA arrivals from Victoria to skip hotel quarantine, hard border to remain

Peter LawThe West Australian
WA Premier Mark McGowan at today’s COVID-19 presser.
Camera IconWA Premier Mark McGowan at today’s COVID-19 presser. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

Travellers from Victoria arriving in WA from October 5 will be allowed to quarantine at home for 14 days, avoiding time in hotel isolation, Mark McGowan has announced.

People arriving from Victoria will still be tested twice for COVID-19 during their two week self quarantine period and have to demonstrate they have residence quarantine at.

The Premier said it was a significant but reasonable change, which would ease pressure on the hotel quarantine system.

Also from Monday, restrictions on travellers from NSW will be in-line with arrivals from other States.

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However, the highly restrictive list of exempt traveller categories for people from Victoria remains unchanged.

Stricter measures have been in place since July when the outbreak in Victoria, and later NSW, began to worsen.

The Premier said the restrictions were highly successful at stopping the reintroduction of the virus into WA.

He said the situation in the eastern states was improving, but there was no reason to rush decisions and put WA at risk.

An updated version of the G2G app will allow police to check in on people remotely while they are in self quarantine.

As a result, Mr McGowan said WA had confidence to ease restrictions.

“From Monday, October 5, people coming to Western Australia from Victoria will be required to undertake 14 days of self quarantine,” he said.

“This is a significant but reasonable change and it'll help ease the demand on our hotel quarantine arrangements as our number of international arrivals of Australians returning home is expected to gradually increase over coming weeks.

“The chief health officer has also recommended some changes to people entering WA from New South Wales, based on that state continuing to report low numbers of cases.

“So from Monday, October 5, New South Wales will be brought into line with all other jurisdictions.

“This means the current conditions that apply to other states and territories will now apply to New South Wales as well. Victoria will be the only unique case.”

But Mr McGowan again wouldn’t nominate a date for reopening the hard border, saying today’s announcement reflected the drop in cases in the East.

“I stress a cautious approach is needed here. There is no need to unnecessarily rush and make decisions that put our State at risk,” he said.

“We have come so far in our COVID journey. We don't want all our efforts as a state to go to waste.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan at today’s COVID-19 presser.
Camera IconWA Premier Mark McGowan at today’s COVID-19 presser. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

No new cases of coronavirus were reported overnight.

Mr McGowan said authorities were well prepared to manage the situation in Port Hedland. He welcomed the Australian Defence Force providing troops in the mining port from Thursday.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson.
Camera IconWA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

Talks are continuing about potential replacement crew and deep cleaning of the ship.

Health Minister Roger Cook said his preference was to get the remaining crew off the Patricia Oldendorff bulk carrier, which is anchored off Port Hedland.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the G2G Now app app would allow officers to conduct virtual quarantine check-ups in real-time.

It would reduce the need for physical door-to-door checks, freeing up police time to focus on the force’s other responsibilities.

The Australian-first G2G Now app was developed locally. Arrivals from Victoria will have to nominate a residence on their arrival in WA.

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