Coronavirus crisis: All South Australian travellers must quarantine under changes to WA’s ‘controlled border’

All arrivals from South Australia will be forced to quarantine for 14 days and take two coronavirus tests under new changes to WA’s ‘controlled border’.

The changes follow an outbreak of locally acquired cases in Adelaide today after a hotel quarantine worker infected their family with COVID-19.

WA’s Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson revealed the new measures in a statement this afternoon, shortly after a plane carrying 151 passengers from Adelaide landed at Perth Airport.

Those passengers were directed by police to self-quarantine for 14 days at a “suitable premises” or return home on a flight to Adelaide tomorrow.

The following changes for South Australian travellers will come into effect “immediately”:

• Anyone arriving from South Australia at Perth Airport will now be tested for COVID-19 on arrival (or within 24 hours of their arrival at another COVID clinic) and given a direction to self-quarantine for 14 days in a suitable premises.
• These arrivals must also be tested for COVID-19 on day 11.
• Anyone arriving via road from South Australia will be given a direction to self-quarantine for 14 days in a suitable premises and be required to take a COVID-19 test on day two and day 11.
• Any SA arrivals earlier today and yesterday, via road or air, will be contacted by WA officials and will be required to take a COVID-19 test in the next 48 hours. Those travellers must self-quarantine until the test results are returned.

“These are initial steps the State Government is taking to protect all Western Australians, and will be reviewed regularly,” Dr Robertson said in the statement.

“We will monitor the position in South Australia very closely and will strengthen measures if required.

“We understand these changes will cause frustration for many people, but these steps are being taken on the best health advice to protect everyone.

“The State Government thanks all arrivals for their patience and understanding.”