Major changes to state and territory borders after Perth COVID-19 case

As two million people across Perth begin the first day of a tough five-day lockdown, the move has sparked a raft of changes at borders across the country.

It also marks the first day Sydneysiders are allowed back into Queensland since December last year.

Here are all the changes to states and territory borders across the country from today.

QUEENSLAND

Queensland became the first state to declare large parts of WA a coronavirus hotspot.

Queensland Health said in a statement that anyone who has been in Metropolitan Perth, Peel or the South West regions of WA who arrives in Queensland from 6pm Sunday will face 14 days in hotel quarantine.

"Anyone who is already in Queensland but has been in Perth or the Peel or South West regions since January 26 should come forward and get tested and isolate until getting a negative result," the statement said.

Queensland Health said the timeframe of the mandatory hotel quarantine may change as it receives more information about WA's COVID-19 situation.

Meanwhile, Queensland is finally open to Sydney residents again this morning, six weeks after the Northern Beaches coronavirus cluster forced the border closure.

Border barriers are being removed at the Gold Coast, and should be full dismantled by tomorrow.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

The ACT has declared the Perth, Peel and the South West region of WA a coronavirus-affected area.

ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said from 2pm today, anyone in the ACT who was in any of the above areas from January 25 onwards must immediately self-quarantine and get tested.

They must remain in quarantine regardless of a negative result until at least Friday, in line with WA's lockdown.

Any returning ACT residents must also fill out a declaration form before they travel home.

Any West Australian MPs who have recently arrived ACT for Parliament will be eligible for an exemption as they are classified as essential workers.

WA politicians arriving in Canberra have been told they need to immediately self-isolate, throwing the return of the parliamentary year into turmoil.

9News cameras filmed groups of senators and MPs at the airport last night, having been in the air when the WA lockdown was announced.

"We are waiting for further advice from the ACT Government, so we are all going to our accommodation, wearing masks, and isolating until we get further information," Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said.

READ MORE: WA health expert wants overhaul of hotel quarantine system

VICTORIA

Victoria is restricting any new arrivals from huge parts of Western Australia beginning from last night.

"From 9pm tonight Perth, the Peel region and South West WA region will be declared red zones under Victoria's traffic light system," 9News Melbourne's Andrew Lund reports.

"That means people will not be able to enter without an exemption. The rest of WA remains green."

The government says people who have arrived from WA red zones between January 25 and 9pm today will be required to isolate, get tested within 72 hours of arriving (or as soon as possible if they have arrived more than 72 hours ago) and remain self-isolated until they receive a negative result.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Any WA travellers arriving in NSW since January 25 face the same "stay at home" restrictions that they would have subject to had they stayed in Western Australia.

That means anyone from those areas now locked down in WA who have arrived in NSW must stay at home until 9pm on Friday.

They will be required to get tested within 48 hours of arriving in the state.

"Passengers who arrived in Sydney on a flight from Perth this evening have been screened for symptoms of COVID-19, and asked if they attended any of the venues of concern identified by WA Health," NSW Health said.

None of the passengers have reported being at any of those venues.

"The new Public Health Order requires all new arrivals to complete an interstate traveller declaration confirming whether they attended any of the venues listed on the WA Health website, and providing contact details," NSW Health said.

"Any travellers who have been at places of concern will be required to be tested and isolate for 14 days if they attended any of the named venues."

As mentioned above, any residents in Greater Sydney are now able to travel to Queensland.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Northern Territory's Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie has declared Metropolitan Perth, the Peel Region and the South West Region of Western Australia as COVID-19 hotspots from 7.30pm on Sunday.

Anyone travelling to the Northern Territory from a COVID-19 hotspot must undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine at the Alice Springs or Howard Springs quarantine facilities at a cost of $2500 per person.

Quarantine will be undertaken at the first urban centre you arrive at, including for transit.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the latest rules applied to about 2000 people who have landed in the NT.

"It is not just advice or direction to isolate, it is a legal direction enforceable by law," he said.

"The public health team is contacting people to make sure they are aware of their obligations.

"There was a flight in Perth yesterday that landed in Alice Springs before moving on to Darwin. Thirty-nine people on that flight were from a hotspot area, and they have all been directed into isolation."

READ MORE: Coles issues toilet paper limits after panic-buying in WA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australia has re-instated a hard border closure to Western Australia.

"Western Australia has been defined as a prohibited location," a statement from SA Police read.

"This means people are not permitted to enter South Australia as of 10.15pm on Sunday 31 January 2021 (other than approved Essential Travellers)."

Anyone who has entered the state from WA and was either at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel or come into contact with someone who was there between January 21 and January 31 must contact SA Health, isolate immediately for 14 days and be tested on days one, five and 12.

People who have already entered South Australia from WA any time since January 26 must also self-quarantine for 14 days and get a COVID-19 test.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said he understood the fast reaction could inconvenience people, particularly South Australians returning.

"We understand the imposition this has on people … but we are responding to a pandemic," he said.

Commissioner Stevens said he was not aware of any South Australians who had been at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Perth.

TASMANIA

Tasmania is yet to decide how it will react to WA's outbreak, but all 108 passengers on a flight from Perth that landed in Hobart yesterday afternoon have been asked to self-isolate.

Those passengers have been asked to wait for contact by Public Health," Premier Peter Gutwein said.

"We are also reviewing details around travellers who have arrived in the state recently via Perth and will make contact with them if Public Health determines it's necessary to ask them to take any action to help minimise any risk.

"I am mindful that the WA Premier is encouraging people from other states and territories not to travel to WA at the moment so I would ask Tasmanians to heed that message and to defer their travel."



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