WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WA’s Safe Transition Plan outlines safe conditions for interstate and international travel and provides certainty on how businesses and WA’s way of life can continue safely with the introduction of public health and social measures once COVID-19 enters WA’s community.

WA will be easing its borders on Saturday 5 February, 2022.

From Saturday 5 February, 2022, you will need to:

• wear a mask in certain venues and settings (usual exemptions apply)
• provide proof of being double dose vaccinated against COVID-19 when entering certain businesses, venues and large events
• check in using the SafeWA app or a manual contact register.

Additional public health and social measures will be introduced for regions in WA that have not reached an 80 per cent vaccination rate at the time of WA’s transition to protect residents and vulnerable communities.

Get ready for WA’s transition now by:

• getting vaccinated against COVID-19, including your third dose when you are eligible
• having your proof of COVID-19 vaccination ready
• linking Medicare to your myGov account  and creating your Digital Identity, in preparation for the WA Government’s new mobile app, available in early 2022
• making sure you have a supply of masks at home.

 

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

You will need to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination or medical exemption to:

• travel into WA, both domestically and internationally (excluding returning Australians who are not vaccinated and will be directed to quarantine)
• visit by air any region in WA that has not reached an 80 per cent double dose vaccination rate
• attend certain events with more than 1,000 attendees
• attend nightclubs
• attend the Crown Perth complex
• attend major stadiums, including Optus Stadium, RAC Arena, HBF Park and HBF Stadium main arena
• attend gatherings/functions with more than 1,000 attendees at the Perth Convention Centre.

 

Regions that have not reached an 80 per cent vaccination rate

If you are in a region in WA that has not reached an 80 per cent vaccination rate, there will be additional places you need to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination or medical exemption, including:

• pubs, bars and bottle shops
• to dine in at restaurants and cafés (takeaway is permitted for unvaccinated people if wearing a mask)
• fitness centres and gyms
• other indoor entertainment venues (play centres, indoor cinemas, theatres, adult entertainment, gaming/gambling venues, and live music venues).

You will not need to show proof of vaccination to enter roadhouses, petrol stations or obtain takeaway.

 

Children aged under 16 years old

• Children aged 5 to 11 years old will not be required to show proof of vaccination for domestic travel or to enter events, venues and businesses.
• Children aged 12 to 15 years old will be required to show proof of vaccination for domestic travel, but will not be required to show proof of vaccination to enter events, venues and businesses.

 

Masks

Masks will be required in high risk indoor settings, including:

• on public transport, taxis and ride share vehicles
• when visiting to hospitals, disability and residential aged care facilities
• when visiting custodial corrections facilities and prisons
• at airports and on domestic flights.

Usual mask exemptions apply.

You are encouraged to wear a mask whenever you cannot safely physical distance from others, including at public transport locations, such as stations, bus stops and jetties.

 

Regions that have not reached an 80 per cent vaccination rate

If you are in a region in WA that has not reached an 80 per cent vaccination rate, there will be additional mask-wearing requirements.

Masks will be required at all indoor venues without a proof of vaccination requirement.

 

SafeWA and contact registers

To help with contact tracing and to keep WA safe, most businesses and venues are required to maintain a contact register.

When WA transitions, taxis and ride share vehicles will also be required to maintain a contact register.

The WA Government’s SafeWA app is an easy way for people to check-in at businesses. A paper contact register must also be available.

 

Travel

Interstate travel

Vaccinated travellers

Vaccinated travellers entering WA from interstate will need to:

• show proof of their double dose vaccination status (if eligible and not exempt)

If your trip into WA is 6 days or more, you will need to:

• show proof of a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours before departure
• undertake a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival.

If your trip into WA is 5 days or less, you will need to:

• show proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours before departure

WA travellers

If your trip away from WA is 6 days or more, you will need to:

• show proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours before departure
• undertake a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival.

If your trip away from WA is 5 days or less, you will need to:

• undertake a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival back into WA.

Unvaccinated travellers

Unvaccinated people will not be permitted to enter WA from interstate unless they are ineligible or medically exempt.

 

International travel

The Australian Government has primary responsibility for managing the international border, and National Cabinet has agreed to facilitate the return of Australians from overseas.

International arrangements are subject to Commonwealth biosecurity settings and requirements. Visit the Australian Government’s International travel and COVID-19 page for detailed information.

Vaccinated travellers

Vaccinated travellers entering WA from overseas will need to:

• show proof of their double dose vaccination status (if eligible and not exempt)
• show proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours before departure

Quarantine is not required for double dose vaccinated international arrivals and there is no cap on the number of vaccinated travellers that can enter WA from overseas.

While in WA, vaccinated travellers will also need to:

• undertake a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival and on day 6 if they are still in WA.

Unvaccinated travellers

Unvaccinated returning residents will be required to:

• show proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure
• complete 14 days of quarantine in a designated facility and undergo COVID-19 testing.

 

Business

Some businesses and venues will be required to check patrons’ proof of COVID-19 vaccinations before they enter the business or venue. Unvaccinated people are not permitted to enter these premises, unless they have a medical exemption.

If required, businesses and venues will also need to:

• maintain a contact register (if required)
• complete a COVID Safety Plan.

All businesses in WA, regardless of size, are encouraged to update their COVID Safety Plan if they are required to have one, or develop a COVID Safety Plan if they do not have one, to protect staff and patrons from COVID-19.

Note: COVID Safety Plans are currently being updated for WA’s transition and will be available soon.

 

Events

Event organisers will be required to take reasonable steps to check proof of COVID-19 vaccination or medical exemption requirement for events with more than 1,000 attendees.

Event organisers are required to complete:

• COVID Event Checklists - for events with more than 500 patrons and less than 1,000 patrons
• COVID Event Plans - for events with 1,000 patrons and above

COVID-19 Event Plans are necessary in ensuring event organisers play their part in keeping the community safe.

The COVID-19 Event Guidelines will help you complete your COVID-19 Event Plan.

If you are organising an event, visit COVID-19 coronavirus: Events.

Note: COVID Event Checklists, COVID Event Plans and COVID-19 Event Guidelines are currently being updated for WA’s transition and will be available soon.

 

Health

Health advice is that high rates of vaccination alone are not enough to manage COVID-19 in the community when WA transitions.

Public health and social measures, along with testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine will help manage cases of COVID-19 in our community.

When COVID enters the WA community, you or someone you live or work with might test positive to COVID-19. If you test positive to COVID-19, a public health unit staff member will contact you to discuss this with you.

Visit HealthyWA’s COVID-19 (coronavirus) page for more information.

When WA transitions on Saturday 5 February, 2022, updated information about testing and quarantine requirements will be available.

 

Remote Aboriginal communities

Check the Remote Aboriginal communities travel page before travelling through remote areas in WA.

There are strict travel restrictions in place for travel to some remote Aboriginal communities, more vulnerable to COVID-19 than other Western Australians. It’s important to plan your trip to help navigate through remote areas and avoid entering restricted areas.