From ACT Health:

A new Public Health Direction will come into effect by 2pm today, declaring the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel and South West regions of Western Australia (WA) as COVID-19 affected areas.

The Direction will restrict travel to the ACT from these COVID-19 affected areas of WA with an online declaration process for ACT residents and exemption process for non-ACT residents.

The Direction will mean anyone who has been in these areas since 25 January 2021 must immediately quarantine and get tested for COVID-19. In addition, people should remain in quarantine until at least 9pm (ACT time) on 5 February 2021, even if they return a negative result.

For ACT Residents returning from WA:

• If you have already returned to the ACT from one of the WA COVID-19 affected areas, you must immediately enter quarantine until at least 9pm (ACT time) on Friday 5 February, get tested for COVID-19, and complete an online declaration form within 24 hours of the Public Health Direction coming into effect today.
• If you are planning to return from one of the COVID-19 affected areas, you must complete an online declaration form as soon as possible prior to travelling, quarantine upon your return to the ACT until at least 9pm on 5 February, and get tested for COVID-19.

For non-ACT Residents coming from WA:

• If you are already in the ACT and have been in one of the COVID-19 affected areas since 25 January, you must immediately enter quarantine until at least 9pm (ACT time) on Friday 5 February, get tested for COVID-19, and complete an online declaration form within 24 hours of the Public Health Direction coming into effect today.
• If you are considering travel to the ACT, and have been in any of these COVID-19 affected areas you should not travel at this time. If you need to travel for an extraordinary circumstance, you will need an approved exemption from ACT Health, and this exemption must be granted prior to travel.

Further information about these new travel restrictions will be available on the Western Australia travel page on the COVID-19 website. This includes the online declaration form, which will be available from 4pm today, and advice on how to submit an exemption.

ACT Health will continue to monitor the situation in WA closely and take additional steps if necessary to keep the ACT community safe.

Reminder on getting tested following Belconnen wastewater detection

ACT Health is reminding people of the importance of getting tested for COVID-19, following a weekend announcement that fragments of the virus were detected in sewage at the Belconnen wastewater testing location.

At this time there remains no evidence to suggest the positive wastewater detection is an undetected active case or community transmission here in the ACT. However, testing is crucial in the immediate days after a positive wastewater detection.

That’s why it is vital for anyone who lives in, works in, or has recently visited the Belconnen area, to get tested for COVID-19 if they are experiencing even the mildest of symptoms, and to self-isolate until they receive a negative result. This is particularly important for anyone who has recently travelled outside the ACT.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, and loss of smell or taste, while less commons symptoms include runny or blocked nose, muscle pain, joint pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.

If you do not have any symptoms, there is no need to get tested.

For further information on free testing clinics in the ACT, visit: www.covid19.act.gov.au/testing

For further information, including Frequently Asked Questions about wastewater testing, visit: www.covid19.act.gov.au/news-articles/wastewater

General information

It is everyone’s responsibility to follow the health advice and do what we can to ensure we keep ourselves and the community safe. We ask Canberrans to:

1. Physically distancing from other groups whenever possible
2. Continue good hand and respiratory hygiene
3. Use the Check In CBR app to check in when out and about
4. Stay home if you are unwell
5. Get tested if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

The ACT Government has a dedicated COVID-19 website for all information about the health and economic response to the pandemic in the ACT. For further information visit www.covid19.act.gov.au.