SA and Victoria change border rules with WA after COVID-19 scare

Two states have changed their border rules with Western Australia after Perth’s COVID-19 scare sparked a snap lockdown.

Victoria has joined South Australia in removing its hard border restrictions with Western Australia.

SA Premier Steven Marshall on Friday confirmed that people coming to Adelaide from the West Australian hot spots of Perth and Peel would no longer have to enter hotel quarantine, effective immediately.

While in Victoria, chief health officer Brett Sutton said that the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel region and the South West region of WA would change from a red zone to an orange zone from 9pm on Friday under the state’s traffic light travel permit system.

People in orange zones could apply for a permit to enter Victoria provided they had not been in close contact with a coronavirus case and did not have any symptoms.

Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton has declared the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel region and the South West region of WA would move from a red zone to an orange zone. Picture: David Geraghty/NCA NewsWire

On arrival in Victoria, orange zone permit holders must isolate at their home or accommodation, get a coronavirus test, and continue isolating until they have received a negative result.

The SA Premier said it was good news that the state’s hard border was being removed.

“There is some very good news that our hard border with WA is being removed effective immediately,” he told reporters on Friday.

Travellers arrive at Adelaide Airport. The border with Western Australia has reopened. Picture: Tom Huntley

“We're very satisfied with the data that is coming in from WA. Travellers coming in from previously identified hot spots will still be required to undertake a PCR test on days one, five and 12 and remain isolated until they receive the day one test result.”

South Australia slammed its borders shut to Western Australia on Monday.

SA Police put out an announcement in the early hours of Monday morning that anyone who arrived in South Australia from Western Australia who was not classed as an essential traveller, local resident, relocating to South Australia or fleeing domestic violence would not be allowed in.

People permitted to enter South Australia from Western Australia needed to undergo 14 days in quarantine.

Anyone who was in Western Australia from 12.01am on Australia Day – January 26 – also needed to quarantine.