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WA finally agrees to open its border to all but one state

Western Australia will open its border to Victorians and NSW residents from December 8.

Premier Mark McGowan made the announcement on Tuesday morning saying the two states are now deemed “very low risk”.

Travellers from those states will no longer be required to quarantine for 14 days, having endured almost nine months of coronavirus restrictions.

South Australia remains a hotspot and anyone who travels to WA through the state will be required to quarantine. Mr McGowan said that situation will be reviewed next week.

Mark McGowan made the announcement on Tuesday. Source: ABC
Mark McGowan made the announcement on Tuesday. Source: ABC

“I know the last nine months have not been easy,” Mr McGowan told reporters.

“I want all Western Australians to know that every decision we have made throughout the pandemic has been made to protect our community based on expert health advice.

“I have sympathy for those who have been impacted... it’s been a long wait.”

Travellers from NSW and Victoria will still be required to undergo health screening and a temperature check at the airport, complete a G2G pass outlining recent travel and take a COVID-19 test if necessary.

Victoria has already reached WA's criteria of 28 days without community transmission to qualify for eased border rules, while NSW has now gone 24 days without a locally-acquired infection.

Travel from SA remains prohibited unless arrivals meet strict exemption criteria and isolate for 14 days.

Mr McGowan said he would not hesitate to reinstate the hard border if there are further outbreaks in Australia’s east.

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