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The Western Australian Government has responded to an emerging outbreak in neighbouring South Australia by tightening border controls with 14-day self-quarantine requirements on arrival.
The escalating of South Australia's status from 'very low risk' to 'low risk' mimics the same actions taken in the early stages of Victoria's outbreak, prior to a hard lockdown against Victorian travellers two days later.
The change is effective immediately, while recent arrivals from SA must monitor for symptoms and present for a COVID-19 test as soon as symptoms develop.
Anyone who has been to a South Australia exposure site at the specific times must self-quarantine for 14 days and be tested within 48 hours and at day 12.
South Australia now joins the Australian Capital Territory as low risk. New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria are all classified as 'medium risk' and the Northern Territory and Tasmania are classified as 'very low risk'.
WA'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.
"Given the fast evolving situation in South Australia, we need to upgrade our border controls to do everything we can to keep COVID-19 out of our community," Premier Mark McGowan says.
"Effective immediately all travellers from South Australia will need to undergo testing and self-quarantine for 14 days."
McGowan describes WA's controlled border arrangements as instrumental in keeping the community safe.
"These changes will no doubt be disruptive and cause frustration but we need to do everything necessary to lock out this virus, especially when there are numerous Delta variant outbreaks on the eastern seaboard," he says.
"I urge any Western Australian that has recently travelled to South Australia to come home immediately - as the hard border may need to return if the situation escalates further."
Updated at 10:35am AWST on 20 July 2021.
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