Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Every Western Australian needs to play their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

To stop the spread of coronavirus, everyone must:

• practise good hygiene
• practise physical distancing
• stay at home if unwell
• know the limits for public gatherings.

How do I practise good hygiene?

• Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water or use hand sanitiser.
• Cover covers and sneezes with a tissue or use your inner elbow. Throw the tissue in the bin immediately.
• Stay home if you're sick. Do not go to work or school.
• Clean surfaces and objects such as doorknobs, keyboards and phones regularly.

What is physical distancing?

• Keeping at least 1.5 metres or two arms lengths (minimum) away from others.
• Avoiding physical greetings such as handshaking, hugs and kisses.
• Using tap and pay instead of cash.
• Avoid large public gatherings and places where there are lots of people. Visit places at quieter times, or if you arrive and it is busy, leave and come back when the crowds have reduced.
• Do not visit others if they are unwell.

For more information about how to practise physical distancing at home, work, school or keeping in touch with others, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website (external site).

Stay at home if unwell and get tested

If you are feeling unwell or sick you must stay at home. Do not go to work or school. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms get tested for COVID-19.

Are public gatherings still allowed?

View WA.gov advice on public gatherings for coronavirus (COVID-19) (external site).

Should I wear a face mask?

Where there is community transmission, face masks can help prevent the risk of spreading or catching COVID-19.

Coronavirus can cause a range of symptoms. These can range from mild illness to pneumonia. If you experience any of the below symptoms, no matter how mild, please get a COVID-19 test.

• fever of 37.5°C or above OR fever in the last few days (for example, night sweats or chills), without a known source
  OR
• have acute respiratory symptoms (for example, coughing, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose)
  OR
• acute (sudden) loss of smell or taste

All people are at risk of infection, but some groups are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill. These groups include:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions
• People 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions. See this page on the Department of Health website for more information
• People 70 years and older
• People with compromised immune systems.

In addition to the ways listed in the 'How can I protect myself against COVID-19?' section above, you could consider:

• having groceries and essential items delivered to your home
• having a chemist deliver your medicines to your home
• working from home if you are employed and this is an option at your workplace.

When to get tested

If you experience any of the symptoms in the “What are symptoms of COVID-19” section above, no matter how mild, please get a COVID-19 test.

For more information visit the COVID-19 testing page.

COVID-19 testing facilities

COVID clinics and private testing facilities are open across the Perth metropolitan and regional areas.

People seeking testing in regional areas, where there isn’t a COVID clinic should go to a public hospital, health service or remote health clinic. Make sure you phone ahead to advise of your symptoms.

View the COVID clinic and private testing facility locations.

DETECT Borders asymptomatic testing program

Workers who qualify for this program can be tested as often as weekly at a COVID clinic in the Perth metropolitan or regional area.

Learn more about the DETECT Borders asymptomatic testing program

Note: testing as part of this program is not available at GP respiratory clinics or private pathology collection centres.

Testing directions

All people who people have been given a Presentation for Testing Direction (external site) or are subject to the Transport Freight and Logistics Direction (external site) must present for testing.

For more information visit the COVID-19 testing page.

What does self-quarantine mean?

Self-quarantine refers to people who have no symptoms: people need to self-quarantine if they are at greater risk of having COVID-19 (for example they may have had close contact with someone who is unwell with COVID-19 or have just returned from overseas or interstate).

Self-quarantine means you must remain in your home, hotel room or other accommodation for 14 days. For more information on what self-quarantine means see Self-quarantine in Western Australia for returned travellers, close contacts and those tested for COVID-19 (PDF 225KB) and Aboriginal resources: Information for your quarantine stay (PDF 227KB)

What does self-isolation mean?

Self-isolation refers to people with symptoms or known disease: people need to self-isolate if they have tested positive to COVID-19 or if they have symptoms and have undergone a COVID-19 test and are waiting on results. People waiting on test results will need to stay in self-isolation until they receive their test results (UNLESS they were already in self-quarantine prior to testing, in which case they will still need to complete their original 14 days of quarantine). People who test positive to COVID-19 will need to stay in self-isolation until they are cleared by the Public Health Unit. For more information on what self-isolation means see COVID-19 Self-isolation information for confirmed cases (PDF 157KB) and Aboriginal resources: Coronavirus disease information for a confirmed case (PDF 139KB)

Travel to WA and self-quarantine

Everyone travelling to Western Australia who is issued a Centre Quarantine Direction under the Emergency Management Act 2005 (external site) will need to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days following arrival. For more information see COVID-19 Paying for hotel quarantine in WA FAQs (PDF 175KB) or www.wa.gov.au (external site)

If you have entered Western Australia under an exemption and have been granted permission on compassionate grounds to visit a patient in hospital within your quarantine period, you must phone ahead to the hospital to arrange this visit to ensure it is managed appropriately. Precautions need to be put in place to protect staff and patients while you attend the hospital. More information is available in the COVID-19 Public hospital visitor guidelines (PDF 177KB).

International travellers (i.e. New Zealand) arriving via travel bubbles

International travellers who enter Western Australia (external site) via domestic flights are still required to complete 14 days mandatory quarantine.

Where can I get help while in self-quarantine or self-isolation?

• Assistance for people in quarantine or isolation (PDF 91KB)

When does my home quarantine end?

If you are in self-quarantine at home, your quarantine ends at midnight, 14 days after you arrived in WA. The day of your arrival into WA is day 0. Day 14 will be 14 days after the day of your arrival. For example:

• if you arrive in WA at 8.00am on 20 August, day 0 will be 20 August, and day 14 will be 3 September. Your quarantine will end at midnight on 3 September.
• if you arrive in WA at 10.00pm on 30 August, day 0 will be 30 August, and day 14 will be 13 September. Your quarantine will end at midnight on 13 September.

Can I leave quarantine early?

No you cannot without the express permission of the WA Police Force or an authorised officer.

Any person who leaves or attempts to leave quarantine early is committing an offence and will be investigated by WA Police Force who may lay charges.

COVID-19 has affected our routines and way of life, which can have an impact on our health and wellbeing.

It's important to look after your health while adapting to changes brought about by COVID-19.

Make sure to keep taking your usual medications, and go to your usual or scheduled doctor's appointments. If you are worried about going to see them in person, contact them to arrange a telehealth consultation.

To protect yourself and others, it's also recommended to get your annual influenza vaccination.

Look after your mental health

Being concerned about coronavirus (COVID-19) is a normal reaction. But, too much worrying can affect both our mental and our physical health.

Some ways to stay mentally healthy:

• stay informed with the right information (either the WA Department of Health (external site) or Australian Government Department of Health (external site))
• stay connected with family and friends – if you can't meet up in person, try talking via phone, video calls, sending emails, social media or writing letters.
• maintain healthy routines
• access support.

Read more about mental health.

For more information about support, resources and how to access services visit:

• Mental Health Commission WA (external site)
• Mental health and COVID-19 in WA (external site)
• Head to Health COVID-19 support Australian Government (external site).

Eat healthy and nutritious foods

Good nutrition is essential for ongoing health and wellbeing. It's important to eat well and have a healthy diet with lots of different nutrients.

Read more about healthy eating or view our list of healthy recipes.

For tips on healthy eating and more recipes visit LiveLighter (external site).

To learn about nutrition and cooking skills visit Foodbank (external site).

Be physically active

Being physically active is vital for health and wellbeing. Read our tips for being active.

You can also find useful information and resources about keeping active while staying at home at LiveLighter (external site).

Limit alcohol consumption

With the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, it is a stressful time for many people with our daily lives changing. Some people may turn to alcohol for short-term stress relief or boredom, but rather than helping us cope, alcohol can make people feel more stressed and anxious.

For tips on reducing your drinking at home, visit Alcohol Think Again (external site).

Stop smoking

Smoking can put you at greater risk of getting chest infections and influenza, and emerging evidence suggests that smoking can be a significant risk factor for more severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Read facts about giving up smoking, getting ready to quit or helping others to quit.

Learn more about quitting smoking and find support by visiting the Make Smoking History (external site). If you’re thinking of quitting, visit WA Quitline (external site).

Prevent injuries

COVID-19 has caused many of us to make changes to our daily routines, and this can change our risk of injury.

Most injuries happen in and around the home, so take practical measures to make sure your home is safe for children and that your water recreation is safe.

For more information visit Kidsafe (external site) and the Royal Life Saving Society of Western Australia (external site).

It's also important for older adults know how to prevent falls. Find out more at Stay On Your Feet® (external site).

The Department of Health is contacting all confirmed cases to identify and inform close contacts.

Learn more about the locations visited by confirmed cases.

General information

• What are coronaviruses?
• What is the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
• What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
• How is COVID-19 spread?
• Who is most at risk of COVID-19?

Testing

• Should I be tested if I don't have symptoms?
• Why won't I get tested if I don't have symptoms?
• Can I be tested?
• Where can I be tested?
• I need to travel overseas to return home. Can I have a test to meet the entry requirements for the place I am returning to?
• Why is point of care serological testing prohibited in WA?
• How do I get medical clearance for work?

Treatment

• What is the treatment for COVID-19?
• Is there a vaccine?
• How is COVID-19 diagnosed?
• What if I don't have Medicare cover?

Self-isolation

• What does self-quarantine mean?
• What does self-isolation mean?
• Do I need to self-quarantine/self-isolate?
• What should I do if I come into contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection?
• What should I do if I need to self-quarantine or self-isolate in a hotel (non-mandatory)?
• I am in self-isolation in a hotel. Can I move around the hotel?
• I am caring for someone who has (or could have) COVID-19, how can I protect myself?
• Can employees return to work if their family members are in a 14 day self-isolation?

Travel

• Can I still come into Western Australia?
• Do I need to self-quarantine if I am travelling to Western Australia from another state?
• Do I need to self-quarantine if I have arrived from overseas?
• Do I need to be tested for COVID-19 if I have arrived in WA from interstate?
• I am a freight driver travelling from interstate. Do I need to be tested?
• Can I still travel in WA?

Protect yourself and others

• How do I practise good hygiene?
• Should I wear a face mask?
• What is physical distancing?

Other

• Should I avoid contact with pets or other animals if I am sick?
• Can domestic animals infect people with COVID-19?

View the coronavirus FAQ's (PDF 237KB)