24 April 2021

ACT restricts travel due to new COVID-19 outbreak in the west

| Genevieve Jacobs
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COVIDsafe sign

COVID cases in WA have prompted a swift response from ACT Health. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

The ACT has recommended against travel to Perth and the Peel region of Western Australia, and will restrict entry to the Territory from those areas, after Western Australia recorded a new case of community transmission today (24 April).

Yesterday, several cases of community transmission were identified from inside hotel quarantine.

A man in his 40s tested positive this afternoon, despite an earlier announcement from WA Premier Mark McGowan that there had been no new cases of COVID-19 in the state.

Two people who had been in hotel quarantine are now known to have spent several days in the community while infectious before one flew to Melbourne on flight QF778 on Wednesday.

Perth has entered a three-day lockdown as a consequence.

“I’m getting to the end of my tether with the Commonwealth handing responsibility to the states and not helping,” Premier McGowan said late this afternoon.

Restrictions have now been imposed on anyone entering the ACT from Western Australia from 8:00 am Saturday, 24 April.

“Yesterday afternoon, the Western Australian Government announced a three-day lockdown in the Perth and Peel regions, beginning 12:01 am (WA time) 24 April 2021. Exposure sites have also been identified in Melbourne,” today’s statement from ACT Health said.

“At this time, these travel restrictions will remain in place until at least 2:00 am (AEST), Tuesday 27 April 2021, while the Perth and Peel region are in lockdown. While these travel restrictions are in effect, ACT residents are advised not to travel to the Perth and Peel region.

“The situation will continue to evolve over the coming days, and ACT Health will provide further advice going forward,” the statement says.

Travellers who entered the ACT before 8:00 am on 24 April 2021 and have been to a WA exposure site must:

  1. Complete a self-declaration form within 24 hours of arriving in the ACT or within 24 hours from the commencement of a COVID-19 area of concern notice. This form will be available from this evening (24 April 2021) or call ACT Health on 02 6207 7244.
  2. Immediately attend a COVID-19 testing centre to undergo a COVID-19 test.
  3. Isolate at your place of residence or other suitable accommodation until informed of a negative test result.
  4. Continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the date last in a listed exposure location. If you experience any symptoms of COVID-19, go to a COVID clinic to be retested.

For travellers who enter the ACT after 8:00 am on 24 April 2021 and have been to a WA exposure site, complete all requirements as detailed in points 1 to 4 above.

Stay at home from the point of arrival until 2:01 am AEST on Tuesday 27 April 2021, unless:

  • To undertake essential work if you cannot work from home or remotely.
  • To shop for essentials like groceries, medicine and necessary supplies.
  • To attend to medical or health care needs, including compassionate requirements, and looking after the vulnerable.
  • To exercise (limited to one hour per day).
  • For essential animal welfare purposes (eg to feed pets or livestock that live elsewhere).

For travellers who have been in a Victoria exposure site:

  • Complete a self-declaration form within 24 hours of arriving in the ACT or within 24 hours from the commencement of a COVID-19 area of concern notice. This form will be available from this evening (24 April 2021), or call ACT Health on 02 6207 7244.
  • Immediately attend a COVID-19 testing centre to undergo a COVID-19 test.
  • Isolate at your place of residence or other suitable accommodation until informed of a negative test result.
  • Continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the date last in a listed exposure location. If you experience any symptoms of COVID-19, go to a COVID clinic to be retested.

For anyone travelling from the Perth and Peel region to the ACT arriving after 8:00 am today, 24 April 2021, the following applies:

ACT residents

Complete the online declaration form before your intended travel or as soon as the declaration form is available.

Upon arrival, stay at home from the point of arrival until 2:01 am AEST on Tuesday 27 April 2021, unless:

  • To undertake essential work if you cannot work from home or remotely.
  • To shop for essentials like groceries, medicine and necessary supplies.
  • To attend to medical or health care needs, including compassionate requirements and looking after the vulnerable.
  • To exercise (limited to one hour per day).
  • For essential animal welfare purposes (eg to feed pets or livestock that live elsewhere).

Non-ACT residents

Apply for an exemption from ACT Health, which must be approved before travel. The online exemption form will be available from this evening (24 April 2021). For urgent exemption requests before the form becomes available, email covid.exemptions@act.gov.au.

Upon arrival, stay at home from the point of arrival until 2:01 am AEST on Tuesday 27 April 2021, unless:

  • To undertake essential work if you cannot work from home or remotely.
  • To shop for essentials like groceries, medicine and necessary supplies.
  • To attend to medical or health care needs, including compassionate requirements and looking after the vulnerable.
  • To exercise (limited to one hour per day).
  • For essential animal welfare purposes (eg to feed pets or livestock that live elsewhere).

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