Two people caught trying to sneak into Western Australia for AFL grand final

A woman who entered WA without a permit has tested positive to Covid-19, while two AFL fans allegedly breached rules to make it to the grand final.

Two footy fans who flew to Western Australia for the AFL grand final have been nabbed for allegedly breaching the state’s strict coronavirus border measures.

A 31-year-old South Australian man flew into Perth on Thursday and said he was going to the final between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs.

But that evening, police established the man had allegedly been in Queensland two days before he travelled into the state and did not declare his travel from there.

He was found in Perth, arrested and charged with one count of failing to comply with a direction. He is expected to appear in court later on Friday.

Earlier this week, a 29-year-old Queensland woman allegedly breached hotel quarantine after she travelled to Perth to attend the game on Saturday despite being warned she would not be allowed out of her two-week mandatory isolation in time.

She was charged with breaching a quarantine direction.

Premier Mark McGowan on Friday revealed WA police had sent back multiple people in the past few days who were not approved to travel into the state.

Mr McGowan said a woman from the extreme risk state of NSW flew into WA without a permit and tested positive to Covid-19 on Friday.

Premier Mark McGowan says WA police have turned back a number of people in the past few days who weren’t authorised to enter the state. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

Mr McGowan said the woman, who has been in hotel quarantine since she arrived in WA on Tuesday, had her G2G pass rejected three times but managed to board a Virgin flight at Sydney Airport.

“For some reason, the airline let her on board and we don’t know why because they’re not supposed to,” Mr McGowan told reporters.

“I want to stress that at this morning’s emergency management team meeting the chief health officer has advised there is no cause for concern with this case.”

Mr McGowan said the woman had tested negative before her flight but later returned a positive result from a compulsory test in hotel quarantine.

There were 15 people on the same flight as the woman, all of whom are in hotel quarantine and have returned negative test results.

WA is gearing up to host the AFL grand final at Optus Stadium. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

The woman also has two casual contacts who were involved in transporting her to hotel quarantine, both of whom are being tested for the virus.

Mr McGowan said most of the contacts linked to a Covid-positive truck driver from NSW who visited WA last week had now returned negative tests.

“Forty-seven contacts have now been identified. Of the 13 close contacts, 10 have tested negative (and) results for the remaining three are pending,” he said.

Of the 34 casual contacts, 21 have tested negative so far.

The WA government has declared Queensland a “low risk” state but travellers must still be screened and must quarantine for 14 days.

Visitors from the state must also undergo a coronavirus test within 48 hours of arrival and on day 12 of quarantine.

The WA government has considered all of NSW an “extreme risk” since late August, with travel prohibited even for compassionate reasons.

Virgin Australia has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Two people caught trying to sneak into Western Australia for AFL grand final