South Australia will change its hard border restrictions to allow West Australians who have not been in designated coronavirus hotspots to enter the state.

Key points:

  • SA imposed a hard border with all of WA late on Sunday in response to a coronavirus case
  • Restrictions will be relaxed, allowing people from outside WA’s lockdown zones into SA
  • SA’s Police Commissioner has also foreshadowed further relaxation with Greater Sydney

Anyone outside of the greater Perth area and two nearby zones will be allowed to enter South Australia, provided they self-isolate until testing negative on day one, and then have follow-up tests on days five and 12.

They also must not have been in the Perth, Peel and South West regions at any time since January 26 — but will be allowed to transit through the Perth Airport.

WA arrivals already in South Australia will be allowed to leave quarantine immediately provided they have not been in the Perth lockdown zone since the same date.

SA’s Police Commissioner Grant Stevens imposed the hard border late on Sunday night, in response to a hotel quarantine security guard in Perth testing positive to COVID-19, sending much of the state into lockdown.

The hard border remains in place for anyone who has been in greater Perth, and only South Australians returning home or people relocating long term, fleeing domestic violence or who have exemptions are allowed to enter SA.

They must continue to quarantine for 14 days.

“Anybody outside of that zone will be able to travel into South Australia, but only have to do the PCR testing on day one, five and 12 and isolate after their day one test until they get their negative result.

“This is a good step forward and a considered approach based on the information we’ve currently received.”

South Australia will also make changes to its border restrictions on Greater Sydney.

Currently anyone arriving from Greater Sydney must have tests on days one, five and 12, and self-isolate until they return a negative result.

From February 13, the testing requirements will be removed, provided there are no new cases of community transmission.

Commissioner Stevens said that date would mark 28 days since the last community transmission in New South Wales — representing two incubation periods of the virus.

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