Coronavirus: Season’s greetings in WA were never so good

Many of the smiling faces at Perth Airport looked as if all their Christmases had come at once as they hugged relatives arriving from NSW and Victoria.

Alan and Barbara Mitchell greet their returning granddaughter Celeste Mitchelson. Picture: Tony McDonough

Many of the smiling faces at Perth Airport looked as if all their Christmases had come at once as they hugged relatives arriving from NSW and Victoria.

The doors of the airport were thrown wide open as more than 1000 travellers on five flights arrive­d in Western Australia for the first time since the state’s hard border was lifted just after midnight on Tuesday.

Premier Mark McGowan had delayed his decision when a hotel worker tested positive to coronavirus in Sydney but the first arrivals on Tuesday on three flights from Sydney and two from Melbourne ended in heartwarming scenes. Mr McGowan said he expected many family reunions: “No doubt it‘ll be emotional,” he said.

Families are reunited at Perth Airport. Picture: Tony McDonough

Some, such as Alison Losely, were able to reach out and touch their new grandchild for the first time. Ms Losely’s daughter Vanessa Butcher brought her four children, including one-year-old Riley, to greet their grandmother, who missed her other daughter’s Perth wedding last month.

“But as soon as Mum discovered the borders might be reopening, she booked her flight,” said Ms Butcher. “She can only stay a few days but it was important to see each other just for a few days.”

She said the best part was being able to leave the airport together instead of Ms Losely facing two weeks’ quarantine, which was mandatory until midnight on Monday for anyone from the ­nation’s two most populous states.

Mr McGowan said WA still maintained a “controlled border”, meaning people arriving must still undergo health checks and fill out COVID declarations.

Hugs in the arrivals hall. Picture: Tony McDonough

Travel from South Australia to WA remains restricted but it is likely people arriving from SA will also soon be categorised as low risk. They will be able to enter WA from Friday but will have to self-isolate in an approved premise for two weeks and be COVID-tested on day 11.

Extra police at Perth Airport ensured that the interstate passengers, some wearing face masks, were taken off their planes in groups of 50, processed through health checks and quickly allowed through exit gates into the arms of waiting relatives and friends.

Theology student Celeste Mitchelson, 24, was hugged by her grandparents Alan and Barbara Mitchell after she returned home from completing an internship in regional NSW.

Mr Mitchell said Premier McGowan’s delay in lifting the borders last week had them worried their granddaughter would not get back in time to celebrate Christmas with them. Ms Mitchelson will now be able to attend a friend’s wedding on Saturday.