WALGA

Updated Directions Released

The Directions, which give legal force to the eased restrictions in effect from today are now available.

The Directions include:

COVID Transition (Testing and Isolation) Directions (No 10) and COVID Transition (Testing and Isolation Modification) Directions
- includes new definition of close contact (consistent with the national definition) and allows for the application of the new definition to those who were isolating under the previous definition
COVID Transition (Public Health and Social Measures) Directions
(No 3)
- removes the 500 capacity limit for all hospitality venues and function centres and the limits on home and private outdoor venues
Contact Register (Revocation) Directions
- removes the requirement for SafeWA check in at venues, by revoking the Contact Register Direction (No 4)
COVID Transition (Interstate and International Border) Amendment Directions (No 2)
- removes the requirement for a Rapid Antigen Test for those arriving in WA

Public Health and Social Measures including Proof of Vaccination for certain venues and wearing of masks remain in place.

The advice of the Chief Health Officer, which indicates that WA is two weeks past its peak of COVID cases and recommends the easing of public health and social measures can be viewed here.

Information for WA Travellers

The HealthyWA website provides important guidance about COVID-safe travel in WA and what to do if you become a close contact or COVID positive while travelling.

This information may be useful for Local Governments running visitors’ centres or providing advice to visitors to their areas, as well as Local Government staff and Elected Members.

If you become a household close contact while travelling
If you want to travel home by car to isolate because you are a household close contact, you’ll need enough supplies to make the return trip without stopping, except where necessary for fuel or rest. This may include one or more overnight stays, provided you do not have symptoms.

If you test positive for COVID-19 while travelling
If you want to travel home by car to isolate because you are COVID-19 positive, you’ll need enough supplies to make the return trip without stopping, except as required by law or where necessary for fuel. No overnight stops are permitted, and the journey time must be 12 hours or less.

Returning home to isolate
If you have travelled by private transport, you can return home to isolate if it is safe to do so. You must:

be well enough to travel
have access to private transport
take the most direct route without stopping
carry proof of ID, including address
have enough food, water, medicine, masks, hand sanitiser and fuel with you to complete the trip home without stopping
if you need to make an urgent purchase (including fuel), it must be contactless

I am a household close contact and want to return home to isolate but can’t return by car. Can I make the return trip by plane?
If you are a household close contact and do not have symptoms, you may travel to an alternative premises by commercial aircraft if you have had a RAT which returned a negative test result within 4 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight.

If you are a household close contact but you do have symptoms, you cannot travel to an alternative premise by commercial aircraft.

I’m COVID-19 positive and holidaying in a tent at a caravan park. Can I isolate here?
If you are COVID-19 positive and can safely travel home by private vehicle (without stopping except for urgent fuel purchases) and your travel time is less than 12 hours, you should return home to complete your isolation.

If this is not possible, you will need to complete your isolation where you are, or at an alternative premise. If you need to use shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, you must wear a mask at all times and stay at least 1.5m from others.

Try and avoid using the shared facilities at busy times and use disinfectant to wipe down surfaces you have touched.

I left my holiday accommodation early to quarantine at home. Am I entitled to a partial refund or compensation?
You will need to check the cancellation policy with the organisation you booked the accommodation with or contact them for further advice.