WA to open borders to Victoria and NSW

Western Australia will reopen its borders to Victoria and NSW in time for Christmas as of 12.01am on December 8.

Premier Mark McGowan said Victorian and NSW residents would be permitted to enter the state from the date with conditions.

The two states would be categorised as "very low risk" jurisdictions, joining the ACT, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania.'

LIVE UPDATES: No new cases in South Australia

"I would like to acknowledge and thank everyone for their patience and understanding, not only in recent weeks but over the course of this pandemic," Mr McGowan said.

"It has been a long wait and our first border controls were introduced all the way back in March, nine months ago.

"As a country I am so relieved we have gotten to this point."

The relaxing of the hard border measures mean NSW and Victorian residents are no longer required to self-quarantine for 14 days when entering WA.

However, all arrivals from NSW and Victoria must undergo a health screening and temperature test upon arrival at Perth airport.

Travellers must be prepared to take a COVID-19 test at the airport clinic if deemed necessary.

They also must complete a pass declaration stipulating they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and declaring which jurisdictions they have travelled to in the past 14 days.

Travellers must confirm they have not knowingly mixed with anyone from South Australia.

Land arrivals will be met at the border checkpoint for health screening and will also have to get their pass declaration checked.

Mr McGowan said December 8 was an "appropriate time" to open the border, as the date marks when NSW is expected to reach no community cases of COVID-19 for 28 days, which was the government's benchmark.

The two states had been grouped together for the reopening date due to there being substantial movement between the NSW-Victoria border communities.

"Our main benchmark has been that they record no community cases of COVID-19 for 28 days," he said.

"Victoria reached that milestone last Friday and we hope NSW can reach that milestone this coming Friday.

"It has been a remarkable effort from Victoria, in particular, given the position they were in a few months ago. It is an outstanding achievement, unrivalled around the world."

WA residents are also permitted to travel east over Christmas, providing they do not visit South Australia.

However, the premier warned the WA Government would not hesitate to reinstate hard border measures if an outbreak occurred in any state.

"We can take this next step safely and cautiously thanks to the recent success of our friends over in the east in getting the spread of the virus under control," he said.

"I make the point again, we will not hesitate to reinstate the hard border if there are outbreaks over east and we get medical advice to do so."

Mr McGowan admitted the last nine months had "not been easy" for families.

"I know the border arrangements have put pressure on families and have been hard to comprehend at times," he said.

"I never thought I would bring in state border controls. It definitely has been an extraordinary year."

Queensland reopened its border to NSW and Victoria today.

The South Australia border reopened to Victoria at midnight.



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