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 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?

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.

If there is community transmission, you may be required to wear a face mask outside the home.

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.

Are public gatherings still allowed?

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

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 will the COVID-19 vaccine program be rolled out?
• Who will get the COVID-19 vaccine first? 
• Frequently asked questions
• COVID-19 vaccine resources

• If you have arrived in WA into Perth Airport and are experiencing 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 see Domestic Arrivals into Perth Airport – Testing for symptomatic travellers (PDF 256KB).
• 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 see COVID-19 Information for Travellers in Hotel Quarantine (PDF 345KB) and COVID-19 Paying for hotel quarantine in WA FAQs (PDF 175KB).
• 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. For more information see Self-quarantine in Western Australia to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (PDF 184KB).
• If you have arrived in WA and have been given a Presentation for Testing Direction (external site) please see Presentation for Testing Direction – Fact sheet (PDF 223KB) for more information.
• If you have arrived into WA from a low risk state (external site) you will need to quarantine at a suitable premise for 14 days following arrival. For more information see COVID-19 low risk travellers fact sheet (PDF 293KB).
• If you have arrived in WA by road and have been given a Transport, Freight and Logistics Direction (external site) please see Transport Freight and Logistics Directions – FAQs (PDF 1MB) for more information.
• For more information on accessing support services whilst you are in quarantine or isolation please see Assistance for people in quarantine or isolation (PDF 84KB)
• For more information on travelling to WA please visit www.wa.gov.au (external site).

• Isolation instructions for people awaiting test results or people in quarantine who are symptomatic (External site).

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 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (PDF 184KB).

See frequently asked questions for any parent, guardian or support worker entering hotel quarantine (PDF 265KB) to accompany either a child under the age of 18 years or an adult that requires a carer during their hotel quarantine period.

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)  

• Assistance for people in quarantine or isolation (PDF 84KB)

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.

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-isolation 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?
• 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?
• Can employees return to work if their family members are in a 14 day self-quarantine?

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)