COVID NSW: WA relaxes its border rules for ‘low risk’ NSW

WA will soon allow travellers from NSW to enter the state without an exemption but there will still be some restrictions.

Travellers from NSW and Queensland will soon be able to visit WA without requiring an exemption but they must self-quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.

In a statement on Friday, the WA government said the two eastern states would transition to “low risk” jurisdictions from 12.01am on Monday.

Visitors must complete a G2G Pass and be tested for COVID-19 on day 11 of their self-quarantine.

All Perth Airport arrivals must undergo a health screening and temperature test and be prepared to take a COVID-19 test if deemed necessary.

Land arrivals at the border checkpoint will also be screened.

Cleaners regularly wipe down handrails and other surfaces at Perth Airport. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tony McDonough

Meanwhile, the ACT has lifted its travel restrictions with nine local government areas in Sydney.

Only the Cumberland local government area remains listed as a COVID-19 affected zone.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the changes meant 449 of the 561 people quarantining in Canberra could leave.

“The removal of all but one of Sydney’s LGAs is a reflection of the vastly improved situation in Sydney and no new locally acquired cases in NSW this week,” he told reporters.

“As soon as we can lift this final restriction … we will, and the chief health officer will review that situation again after the long weekend.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the chief health officer would continue to monitor and review the border controls.

“The outbreak in NSW last month was extremely concerning and prompted immediate action right across the country,” he said.

VICTORIA OPENS TO ALL BUT ONE SYDNEY AREA

NSW has recorded its fifth straight day without a locally acquired case of coronavirus.

Testing rates jumped in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday night with 17,431 people presenting for swabs compared with 12,213 on Wednesday.

One returned traveller in hotel quarantine tested positive.

NSW Health is urging those who live in or have travelled to the following suburbs to monitor for symptoms after virus traces were found in sewage:

Lidcombe, Rookwood, Strathfield, Homebush West, Chullora, Rydalmere, Camellia, Rosehill, Silverwater, Clyde, Newington, Sydney Olympic Park, Bankstown, Yagoona, Bass Hill, Sefton, Birrong, Potts Hill, Condell Park, Chester Hill, Old Guildford, Berala, Guildford, South Granville, Auburn, Regents Park, Merrylands, Parramatta, Holroyd, Granville, Harris Park, Merrylands West, and Guildford West.

Virus traces have been found in Sydney sewage, prompting calls for more testing. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

VICTORIA LIFTS BORDER TO SYDNEY LGAS

Victoria has eased its border restrictions on more Sydney suburbs, allowing thousands of stranded residents to return home to the southern state.

From 6pm tonight, those who live in or have travelled to all but one NSW local government area will be able to enter Victoria, with only Cumberland still locked out.

Premier Daniel Andrews said on Friday health authorities had been reviewing the situation “every single day” to evaluate what steps could be taken.

“Those steps, of course, have to be safe,” he said.

“From 6:00pm tonight, all but one of the Greater Sydney LGAs that are currently red will become orange. That is to say, with the exception of Cumberland, those nine shires, or local government areas – Blacktown, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury Bankstown, Fairfield, inner West, Parramatta and Strathfield – they’ll all move from red to orange.

“Which means people will be able to travel to or from but they must test within 72 hours. Then they’re free and clear once they get a negative test result.”

Residents in all local government areas in NSW, apart from Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains will now be able to travel freely into and out of Victoria, as they become green zones.