COVID-19 (coronavirus)

• Who can get vaccinated now?
• Where to get vaccinated and how to book an appointment
• Get help to be vaccinated (external site)
• Frequently asked questions
• COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder (external site)

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:

• Book in to receive your COVID-19 vaccination, or not yet eligible, register at rollup.wa.gov.au (external site) to be notified when you can book your vaccination
• 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 coughs 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).

Should I wear a mask?

Face masks must be worn in certain settings. Masks are not necessary for children under 12.

You must wear a face mask at an airport, travelling on an aircraft, or transporting a person subject to a quarantine direction (e.g. in a personal vehicle, private car, hired car, ride-share vehicle or taxi). If you are under a quarantine direction, you must wear a face mask when you present for a COVID-19 test.

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

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 (≥37.50C) OR recent history of fever (e.g. night sweats, chills), without a known source
  OR
• Acute respiratory symptoms (including cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose)
  OR
• Acute 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.

State quarantine facilities

• 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 at their own expense for 14 days following arrival.
• For more information refer to Information for hotel guests (PDF 223KB) and COVID-19 Paying for hotel quarantine in WA FAQs (PDF 175KB).

Quarantine

• Everyone travelling to Western Australia who is issued a Controlled Border Direction (external site) will need to quarantine at a suitable premise for 14 days following arrival.
• If you have arrived in WA and have been given a Presentation for Testing Direction (external site) you will need to get tested for COVID-19 on day 12 of quarantine. Please refer to the Presentation for testing factsheet (external site).
• For more information on accessing support services whilst you are in quarantine or isolation please refer to Assistance for people in quarantine or isolation (PDF 84KB)
• Download the G2G Now app (external site) to enable virtual quarantine checks.

Controlled border

• If you have arrived into WA as a high risk traveller (external site) please refer to COVID-19 Fact sheet for travellers from a high risk jurisdiction (PDF 174KB).
• If you have arrived into WA as a medium risk traveller (external site) please refer to COVID-19 Fact sheet for travellers from a medium risk jurisdiction (PDF 174KB).
• If you have arrived into WA from a low risk jurisdiction (external site) please refer to COVID-19 Fact sheet for travellers from a low risk jurisdiction (PDF 293KB).

Road border

• If you have arrived in WA by road and have been given a Transport, Freight and Logistics Direction (external site), please check the Direction for the testing requirements that apply to you.

Travel to WA

• For more information on travelling to WA please visit www.wa.gov.au (external site).

What does quarantine mean?

People need to quarantine if they have been assessed as being 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).

Quarantine means you must remain in your home, hotel room or other accommodation for 14 days, unless otherwise directed by an authorised officer.

During this period, you should not have contact with anyone else who resides in the premises chosen for your quarantine. You must take all precautionary measures to ensure you remain a physical distance of 1.5m.

For more information please refer to Quarantine after being tested: High-risk and low-risk tested persons (PDF 224KB)

What does isolation mean?

People need to isolate if they have tested positive to COVID-19.

People who test positive to COVID-19 will need to stay in isolation until they are cleared by WA Health. 

How long will I have to quarantine for?

Your quarantine will begin from the date and time that was specified in your relevant Direction and will generally last 14 days, unless advised otherwise by an authorised officer.

If you have been issued a quarantine direction under the Controlled Border Directions, 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 12.01am on 4 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 12.01am on 14 September.

For more information on quarantine and isolation please refer to the following:

• Quarantine after being tested: High-risk and low-risk tested persons
• COVID-19 Fact sheet for travellers from a low risk jurisdiction
• COVID-19 Fact sheet for travellers from a medium risk jurisdiction
• COVID-19 Fact sheet for travellers from a high risk jurisdiction
• Frequently asked questions for any parent, guardian or support worker entering hotel quarantine
• Aboriginal resources: Coronavirus disease information for a confirmed case
• Assistance for people in quarantine or isolation

COVID-19 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.

The latest advice and updates on COVID-19 testing including including:

• symptoms and when to get tested
• where to get tested
• test results
• DETECT Borders asymptomatic testing program
• Wastewater testing

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

The latest advice and updates on COVID-19 for health and wellbeing including:

• mental health 
• food and nutrition 
• physical activity
• alcohol consumption
• smoking 
• injury prevention

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

• When should I get tested?
• Should I be tested if I don't have symptoms (if I am 'asymptomatic')?
• Why won't I get tested if I don't have symptoms?
• 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?
• Why do I need to stay in quarantine after my day 11 test?

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-quarantine and 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 need to self-quarantine or self-isolate in a hotel?
• I am in self-quarantine or self-isolation in a hotel. Can I move around the hotel?
• I am required to attend a COVID clinic as I am in self-quarantine but don’t have my own car to get there? Can I use a taxi or a bus?
• I am in quarantine, but have an appointment booked for a COVID-19 vaccination during this time. Can I still attend?
• What should I do if I am identified as a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection?
• I have a person at home in self-quarantine/self-isolation what do I do with their linen?
• I am caring for someone who has (or could have) COVID-19, how can I protect myself?

Protect yourself and others

• How do I practise good hygiene?
• Should I wear a face mask?
• What sort of mask should I wear and how do I wear one safely?
• 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?
• How do I report a business or venue that is not maintaining a contact register?

View the coronavirus FAQ's (PDF 237KB)