Australian states introduce travel restrictions on WA after new COVID-19 case

By Xinhua Published: Feb 02, 2021 03:05 PM

People wearing face masks ride in Perth, West Australia, Australia, on Feb. 1, 2021. Several Australian states and territories have imposed border restrictions on travelers from Western Australia (WA) on Monday after a quarantine security guard tested positive to COVID-19 and triggered a hard lockdown in the state. (Photo by Zhou Dan/Xinhua)

Several Australian states and territories have imposed border restrictions on travelers from Western Australia (WA) on Monday after a quarantine security guard tested positive to COVID-19 and triggered a hard lockdown in the state.

Local authorities said the man could have the highly infectious COVID-19 strain that was initially found in Britain, and the whole metropolitan area of WA's capital city of Perth, Peel region and South West region entered into a five-day lockdown since 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Several states and territories acted swiftly to declare the lockdown regions in WA as COVID-19 hotspots and introduced travel restrictions.

A woman wearing a face mask is seen in Perth, West Australia, Australia, on Feb. 1, 2021. Several Australian states and territories have imposed border restrictions on travelers from Western Australia (WA) on Monday after a quarantine security guard tested positive to COVID-19 and triggered a hard lockdown in the state. (Photo by Zhou Dan/Xinhua)

Queensland Health Ministry said anyone who has been in metropolitan Perth, Peel or the South West region of WA since Jan. 25 would be required to go into 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine when arriving at the sunshine state.

Besides, travelers who have been to those high-risk areas but are already in Queensland should get tested and isolate until they get a negative test.

The state of Victoria went further to restrict any new arrivals from the lockdown regions in WA from Sunday night.

"As of 9:00 p.m. Victorian (AEDT) time on Sunday, the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel region and the South West region of WA have moved from a green zone to a red zone," Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement on Monday.

"If you have been in one of these currently listed WA red zones since Jan. 25, you will not be allowed to enter Victoria without an exception, exemption or permitted worker permit."

Travelers who came from the area and had already arrived in Victoria were informed to get tested and remain isolated until they receive a negative test.

The New South Wales (NSW) government also issued a new public health order late Sunday to place travelers from WA under the same "stay-at-home" restrictions as they would have faced had they stayed in WA.

"Any travelers who have been at places of concern will be required to be tested and isolate for 14 days if they attended any of the named venues," NSW Health said in a statement.

Any people who have been in any of the named local government areas since Jan. 25 will be required to get tested within 48 hours of arrival in NSW. They will also have to stay at home for five days until 9:00 p.m. on Friday.

Passengers who arrived in Sydney on a flight from Perth last evening were screened for COVID-19 symptoms and none of them reported being at any of the venues of concern in WA.

Medical staff members work at a COVID-19 testing clinic in Perth, West Australia, Australia, on Feb. 1, 2021. Several Australian states and territories have imposed border restrictions on travelers from Western Australia (WA) on Monday after a quarantine security guard tested positive to COVID-19 and triggered a hard lockdown in the state. (Photo by Zhou Dan/Xinhua)

Few people are seen in an empty street in Perth, West Australia, Australia, on Feb. 1, 2021. Several Australian states and territories have imposed border restrictions on travelers from Western Australia (WA) on Monday after a quarantine security guard tested positive to COVID-19 and triggered a hard lockdown in the state. (Photo by Zhou Dan/Xinhua)