The ACT government is recommending against travel to parts of Western Australia and will impose restrictions on those wishing to enter the territory from 8am Saturday following a coronavirus outbreak in the western state.
WA Premier Mark McGowan announced metropolitan Perth and the nearby Peel region would be locked down for three days from midnight Friday, after an outbreak in hotel quarantine led to two people spending several days in the community while infectious.
One of the infected people also flew to Melbourne on flight QF778 on Wednesday.
The identification of community exposure sites has led ACT health authorities to issue new travel advice.
Anyone who visited any of the exposure sites in Western Australia or Victoria at the date and times specified at the previous links should:
- immediately get a COVID-19 test
- isolate at their place of residence or other suitable accommodation until they receive a negative test result
- monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the last time they were at an exposure site, and be retested if symptoms emerge
- submit an online declaration form, available from Saturday evening, or call ACT Health on 6207 7244.
Anyone who was in the Perth and Peel regions on or after Saturday April 17 is also required to abide by new travel restrictions, which begin at 8am Saturday.
Non-ACT residents who have been in those areas will have to receive an approved exemption from ACT Health prior to travel if they wish to enter the territory (email covid.exemptions@act.gov.au for urgent requests), while ACT residents will need to submit a declaration form.
Both ACT residents and interstate visitors approved for entry to the territory must stay at home until at least 2am on Tuesday April 27, unless leaving their house for four essential reasons, which are:
- essential work
- essential shopping (groceries and medicine)
- medical and healthcare needs, including compassionate requirements and looking after the vulnerable
- exercise, for one hour per day.
ACT Health expects to issue further advice going forward.
