COVID-19 Directions have been updated in South Australia in relation to the situation in Western Australia after a hotel quarantine security guard in Perth tested positive to COVID-19, sending much of the state into a five-day lockdown. The possible spread of COVID-19 in Western Australia is of particular concern.
Updates have been made to the Cross Border Travel and Residential Aged Care Directions. These updates provide restrictions for people travelling from Western Australia and the easing of restrictions for people travelling from New Zealand.
Cross Border Travel Direction No 32
The Cross Border No 32 Direction comes into effect as of 10.15pm on Sunday 31 January 2021.
The changes are as follow:
Entry from Western Australia
Western Australia has been defined as a prohibited location. This means people are not permitted to enter South Australia as of 10.15pm on Sunday 31 January 2021 (other than approved Essential Travellers). Exemptions do apply for people genuinely relocating to South Australia, returning South Australian residents and people escaping domestic violence situations however, travellers must have an approved Cross Border Travel Application.
The public should be aware that a new Direction has been created under the Emergency Management Act 2004 by the State Coordinator, Grant Stevens. This Direction is the Emergency Management (Quarantine and Testing of Former Western Australian Arrivals) (COVID-19) and also comes into effect at 10.15pm on Sunday 31 January 2021. The following restrictions apply:
- People who have already entered South Australia having been physically present on the site or a close contact of a person present at the site of the Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 707 Wellington Street Perth, Western Australia since 21 January and 10.15pm on Sunday 31 January must contact SA Health immediately and quarantine (at a place determined by an authorised officer) for 14 days starting 10.15pm on Sunday 31 January, receiving COVID-19 tests on days 1, 5 & 12.
- People who have already entered South Australia having been in Western Australia (other than the above people) any time since 26 January 2021 must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days at a suitable place and get a COVID-19 test immediately and on days 5 and 12.
- If people in either of these categories refuse a COVID-19 test they must reside and remain at their place of quarantine with any other people that they are in quarantine for and additional 10 days.
Entry from New Zealand
- New Zealand is no longer a prohibited location under the new Cross Border Travel Direction. This means people are now permitted to travel from New Zealand to South Australia providing they adhere to the following restrictions.
- Any person travelling from the New Zealand must receive a COVID-19 test within 24 hours from arrival in South Australia and self-quarantine until they receive a negative test result. They must get tested again on day 5 and day 12. A person does not need to remain in self-quarantine after receiving the first negative COVID-19 test unless they have COVID-19 symptoms.
- People who are currently in self-quarantine having travelled from New Zealand under a previous Direction are no longer required to complete the remainder of their 14 days, providing they have received at least one negative COVID-19 test. Travellers will need to get the remaining of their COVID-19 test on days 5 and 12.
Essential Travellers
- Essential Travellers status is not required for people who have been in Low Community Transmission Zone (ACT, NSW-other than a Restricted Location, NT, QLD, TAS & VIC) for the previous 14 days.
- Essential Travellers who have been in Western Australia, NSW Restricted Locations and New Zealand must apply through the Cross Border Travel Registration and must be approved before entering SouthAustralia. https://www.police.sa.gov.au/online-services/cross-border-travel-application
- For Essential Traveller requirements please refer to the Essential Traveller Requirement Table located on the covid-19.sa.gov.au website.
Meaning of Self-Quarantine
- A person required to undertake self-quarantine must travel to the place of quarantine by the most direct and practical route, reside and remain in that place for the self-quarantine period and remain segregated from other people. They must remain at the place unless they are obtaining medical care and/or supplies, a COVID-19 test, an emergency situation or other reason specified by the State Coordinator. The person must take reasonable steps to ensure no other person enters the place except where the other person is also self-quarantining, entering for emergency proposes, providing/receiving care or they usually reside at the place.
- If the place of self-quarantine is a short-term accommodation facility, they must notify the operator that they are undertaking self-quarantine.
Residential Aged Care Facilities Direction No 25
The Residential Aged Care Facilities No 25 Direction comes into effect as of 10.15pm on Sunday 31 January 2021.
The only change to the Residential Aged Care Facilities Direction is:
- People from Western Australia are not permitted to enter an aged care facility (unless they have an exemption and prior approval from the facility and SA Health as a pre-approved essential traveller).
- A person who has travelled from New Zealand (having been in New Zealand on or after 14 January 2021) may only enter an RACF having isolated and received a negative test result.
- A person who has entered SA and completed 14 days of quarantine is free to move around South Australia and also enter a Residential Aged Care Facility.
Other existing requirements remain. The information above only highlights the changes key made to the Directions and does not reflect all requirements. Members of the public are encouraged to see the full Directions for further information.
The Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 31) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 32)(COVID-19) Direction 2021. The Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 24) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 25) (COVID-19) Direction 2021.
All existing directions, frequently asked questions and other information can be found here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations
If you require further information you can call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787 between the hours of 9am to 5pm 7 days per week or go to the SA Health website at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au or www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
