Coronavirus: Premier reveals WA plan for border to re-open to domestic and international travellers

Western Australia will reopen to domestic and international travellers when the State hits a 90 per cent vaccination milestone — likely in late January or early February.

Premier Mark McGowan did not set an exact transition date at this morning’s road-map reveal press conference.

The final date — which will also trigger the reintroduction of some restrictions — will be announced when WA hits the 80 per cent double dose mark for everyone aged 12 and above.

The decision is based on new Health Department modelling showing that almost 200 fewer West Australians would die with COVID-19 if the border reopens at 90 per cent vaccination instead of 80 per cent.

The modelling estimates 313 COVID patients would die in the first year after an outbreak at a vaccination rate of 80 per cent, compared to 117 deaths at 90 per cent. Case numbers would hit 104,000 and 43,000 respectively at the two different vaccination rates.

“It is a cautious and safe plan based on our expert health advice,” Mr McGowan said.

“We’ve done so well, we don’t want to fall at the last hurdle.

“Put simply, if we eased our borders earlier at 80 per cent, modelling suggests widespread community transmission would result in far more infections, hospitalisations and deaths.”

Once the reopening date is set — likely in early December — it will be “locked in,” Mr McGowan said.

The lifting of the controlled border restrictions will mean the reintroduction of restrictions. Face masks will be required in high-risk indoor settings such as public transport and in hospitals and aged care facilities.

People will be required to show proof of vaccination to gain entry to nightclubs, casinos, and large events with crowds of more than 1000 people.

The plan also allows for additional “step-up” measures that could be introduced to cope with an outbreak. These involve the greater use of face masks, rapid testing at workplaces, and capacity and density limits.

“These step up measures are something I want to avoid, and achieving a rate of 90 per cent gives us the best chance of doing just that,” Mr McGowan said.

We need at least 250,000 more Western Australians to roll up and get vaccinated.

The isolation requirements for close and casual contacts of COVID-19 cases will change once WA opens up, though details aren’t yet concrete. Those infected with the virus will have to quarantine, but casual contacts will likely not. The isolation requirement for close contacts will probably drop from 14 days to seven days.

WA will be the last State to abandon a COVID-zero policy — every other State intends to allow quarantine-free travel before Christmas.

Eased border restrictions will only apply to the vaccinated. People who are double dose vaccinated will have to return a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to departure and undertake a test within 48 hours of arrival. Unvaccinated International arrivals will have to quarantine for 14 days.

Currently, 79.3 per cent of West Australians aged 12 and above have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 63.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Health Minister Roger Cook urged people to get the jab.

“We need at least 250,000 more Western Australians to roll up and get vaccinated. That’s about four Optus Stadiums full of people, and we can do it,” he said.

“Do you really want to be one of those 250,000 people holding us back?”

Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Robertson said that the 90 per cent threshold would minimise the adverse impacts on the WA health system.

“Every person we put into an ICU (because of COVID) is one less person that can go into those ICU beds,” he said.

“That will impact other people, who have other conditions, who are seriously unwell.”

The WA Tourism Council welcomed the announcement but called on the Premier the set an exact date.

“Without a date for reopening, people can’t book family reunions or other travel, and tourism businesses can’t recruit staff or plan to reopen,” CEO Evan Hall said.

“Every day WA remains without a date, we are at a disadvantage to other States for recruiting staff, attracting visitors and keeping tourism businesses going.”

However, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA said that the plan would provide WA businesses with the certainty they require – and signalled “game on” for the vaccine rollout.

“Crucially, the plan confirms that when WA reaches 80% double vaccination, a date will be nominated at which we will transition away from emergency restrictions,” a spokesperson said.

“The WA community and Government must do all it can to supercharge vaccination rates.

“Together, we can bring the open date forward by several weeks from the current forecast of late January.”