Queensland hard border reinstated, while WA records one new case over the weekend.

On Saturday the Department of Health reported one new case of COVID-19 in Western Australia, bringing Western Australia’s total to 875.

The new case recorded over the weekend is a woman in her 30’s who is in hotel quarantine and is related to overseas travel.

WA Health are now monitoring 15 active cases and 851 people have recovered from the virus in WA.

WA Border With Queensland

As of Saturday 9th of January from 12:01 am Western Australia reinstated a hard border with Queensland as an immediate measure to reduce the risk of the virus coming into the WA community.

“Our health officials and Queensland health officials jointly agree the recent case in Queensland is a dangerous situation, not only for Brisbane but for the whole of Australia.” Mr McGowan stated.

The hard border was put back in place based on WA Chief Health Officer’s latest health advice as Queensland transitioned from a ‘very low risk’ State to a ‘medium risk’ State under WA’s controlled interstate border regime.

Anyone who had arrived from Queensland since January 2 or was in Queensland from January 2 and has since arrived in WA will be required to do the following:

• self-quarantine in a suitable premise until you have spent 14 days in WA;
• present for an initial COVID-19 test by Tuesday, January 12;
• present for a COVID-19 test if any symptoms develop during quarantine;
• present for a COVID-19 test on day 11 after arrival in WA (if still in WA).  

For anyone who has come into contact with someone who recently arrived from Queensland, they do not need to self-quarantine and only need to be tested for COVID-19 if symptoms develop.

Travel from Queensland will no longer be permitted, unless you are an exempt traveller. This also applies to anyone who may have been in Queensland since January 2 and has not completed 14 days in a lower risk State or Territory.

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. 
• compassionate reasons – including those Western Australians that may have travelled to Queensland recently and need to return to WA.

“The Western Australian community has been COVID free now for 272 days – that’s nearly nine months.

“We don’t want to see community transmission in WA, because we know that means people’s lives will be put at risk and businesses will shut.” Said Mr McGowan.

Further Perth COVID-19 news on SoPerth.com.au.

Feature image: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright