Western Australia will tighten its border controls with Queensland from Monday, when visitors from that state will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
Key points:
- The elevated risk level comes after community spread of COVID-19 in Queensland
- It is also in response to the planned softening of Queensland's border regulations on Monday
- Western Australia's government says a cautious approach is needed
Queensland has been elevated from a 'very low risk' to a 'low risk' jurisdiction under Western Australia's controlled border arrangements.
The WA Government says the elevated risk level has been brought in due to the "escalating situation" in Queensland where there has been community spread of the virus.
The move is also the result of Queensland's plan to introduce relaxed quarantine requirements with COVID-positive jurisdictions from Monday.
In a statement, the Premier Mark McGowan said the heightened risk level was necessary as some cases in Queensland have an unknown source.
"With community spread now being experienced in Queensland and its expected move to relax border controls and quarantine arrangements with COVID-positive jurisdictions, in the midst of Omicron, we need to take caution and strengthen our border controls with Queensland," he said.
"This will inconvenience people, however we know border controls work to keep WA safe and they're effective in managing the risks of COVID-19 entering the community, while we don't yet have sufficient levels of vaccination coverage."
Border changes increases risk of Omicron spread, says health minister
Health Minister Roger Cook said travellers from COVID-positive jurisdictions will be able to enter Queensland from Monday without a requirement to undertake quarantine.
"This is likely to lead to increased community spread of the Omicron variant," Mr Cook said.
"We have seen community case numbers increase in recent days across Australia.
"Western Australia does not have any COVID in our community and we want to keep it that way until we have better vaccination coverage.
Travel from Queensland will only be allowed for those who are double dose vaccinated, can present for a COVID test on arrival and on day 12, and can quarantine at a suitable location for 14 days.
Anyone who has arrived in Western Australia since December 1, and has been at an exposure site in Queensland, is required to self-quarantine for 14 days and get tested.
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2021-12-11 07:40:06Z
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