Page 4024 - Week 13 - Thursday, 2 December 2021
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We have seen over recent days all governments across Australia taking a cautious response to the World Health Organisation’s classification of the Omicron variant of concern. Any travellers who arrive in Australia on or after 11.59 pm on 27 November and have spent any time in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia and Eswatini in the 14 days prior to arrival are required to quarantine at their port of entry, in accordance with the restrictions in place in that jurisdiction, regardless of vaccination status.
The period of quarantine is 14 days from arrival into Australia. Seychelles was removed from the list of countries of interest by the commonwealth Chief Medical Officer on 30 November. Any travellers who arrived in Australia before 11.59 pm on 27 November 2021 and have spent any time in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia and Eswatini in the 14 days prior to arrival in Australia must also quarantine until 14 days have passed since they were last in the country, complete an online declaration form immediately if they have not already, get tested for COVID-19 immediately if they have not already, and get tested for COVID-19 again on day 5 or 6 and on day 12 or 13 after arriving in Australia.
Household members of any international travellers who have been in one of the listed countries must also quarantine with the traveller.
Fully vaccinated international travellers arriving from countries other than those listed above must follow the requirements of the jurisdiction of their port of entry into Australia. If the port of entry allows travel to the ACT, travellers must complete an online declaration within 24 hours prior to arriving in the ACT, travel directly to their ACT residence or accommodation to complete a three-day quarantine period, with day zero being the day of arrival into Australia, get tested for COVID-19 within 24Â hours of arriving in Australia, and get tested for COVID-19 again on day 6 after arriving in Australia.
All residents in the household where a returned traveller is quarantining must also quarantine if appropriate separation cannot be maintained. Provided the returned traveller receives confirmation of a negative PCR test, they and other household members may leave quarantine at 11.59 pm on day 3. They do not need to wait to be formally advised of the end of their quarantine by ACT Health.
Although travellers may leave quarantine after day 3, due to the uncertain public health impact associated with the Omicron variant, we strongly encourage them to limit movement in the community until they receive a negative test result from the mandatory day 6 PCR test. This means travellers should stay at home wherever possible and minimise their movement in public spaces to essential reasons only, keep good records of where they have been, including dates and times, and use Check In CBR wherever it is required or indeed available, avoid use of public transport and, if essential, ensure a mask is worn, practise good hand and respiratory hygiene and wear a face mask whenever in a public space.
Entry to high-risk settings in the ACT is restricted for fully vaccinated international travellers who have been overseas in the 14 days prior to entering a facility.
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