I am on holiday and have tested positive to COVID-19. My family are close contacts. We need to return home to complete our isolation – how do I protect my family and others while travelling?
You should only travel if you are well enough and it is safe to do so. You must travel by private vehicle and by the most direct route without stopping overnight or at all (except as required by law or for urgent fuel purchases). Your travel time to the alternative isolation premises must not exceed 12 hours. You and your family should wear masks from the time you leave your holiday accommodation until you arrive back home. Keep 1.5m distance from others wherever possible. Cover coughs, wash hands often and if you can, open car windows and set air conditioning to fresh air.
I am holidaying in a regional/remote part of WA and need to take a COVID-19 test. Should I take a RAT or attend a clinic for a PCR test?
RATs are an acceptable testing method, as they are convenient, provide results quickly and can be used alongside other important public health measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 where there is widespread community transmission.
If you receive a positive RAT, a follow up PCR test is not required unless you are instructed to do so by Public Health.
If you’re unable to access RATs, the COVID-19 testing clinics page lists testing options in metropolitan Perth and regional WA
I’m COVID-19 positive and holidaying in a tent at a caravan park. Can I isolate here?
If you are COVID-19 positive and can safely travel home by private vehicle (without stopping except for urgent fuel purchases) and your travel time is less than 12 hours, you should return home to complete your isolation. If this is not possible, you will need to complete your isolation where you are, or at an alternative premise. If you need to use shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, you must wear a mask at all times and stay at least 1.5m from others. Try and avoid using the shared facilities at busy times and wipe down surfaces you have touched with disinfectant, when you have finished.
If I am identified as a close contact, do I need to get a PCR test or take a RAT?
Yes, you should get tested immediately either by presenting for a PCR test or taking a RAT:
Do I need to wait for PCR results before I can go home?
No. You can return home to isolate while waiting for the results of a PCR test but must return directly home if it is safe to do so.
You must comply with mask wearing requirements, all other public health and social measures and the requirements for travellers returning home to isolate.
Can I remain in my holiday accommodation to isolate until the end of my booking?
If your accommodation is suitable for isolation, you can remain there.
Consider factors such as availability of support networks and practical issues such as arranging contactless delivery of food and other supplies when making your decision.
I have tested positive for COVID-19 while travelling and am now returning home. Does my isolation period start when I return home?
No. Your isolation period starts from the date you took your test (not the date you received the result or arrived home).
I have COVID-19 and am returning home to isolate. Can I stop along the way (e.g. to get petrol or buy food)?
Before you leave, you should have enough food, water, medicine, masks, hand sanitiser and fuel with you to complete the trip home without stopping, if possible.
You should take the most direct route home.
I left my holiday accommodation early to isolate at home. Am I entitled to a partial refund or compensation?
You will need to check the cancellation policy with the organisation you booked the accommodation with or contact them for further advice.
I am a close contact and want to return home to isolate but can’t return by car. Can I make the return trip by plane?
If you are a close contact and do not have symptoms, you may travel to an alternative premises by commercial aircraft if you have had a RAT which returned a negative test result within 4 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight.
If you are a close contact but you do have symptoms, you cannot travel to an alternative premise by commercial aircraft.