WA Health has some practical advice for anyone planning to wander out yonder this winter. With Covid-19 still in the community, anyone planning a travel adventure needs to be prepared.
“Along with toothpaste and deodorant, pack your RATs, face masks, hand sanitiser, pain relief medication, electrolytes, mosquito repellent and sunscreen,” WA chief health officer Dr Andrew Robertson, said.
“Travellers should also think about what they will do if they get Covid-19 on the road. If you need to isolate, where will you stay and how will you look after yourself?”
WA Health’s HealthyWA website has information about Covid-safe travel in WA.
Here’s a few more considerations:
Save important phone numbers to your mobile phone before you leave, including:
• 13 COVID (13 26843)
• Your GP or medical clinic
• Healthdirect (1800 022 222) if you do not have a GP in WA
• Phone numbers of family, neighbours or other important support networks. If you need to return home to isolate, you may need to ask these people to check that you have arrived home safely or drop off groceries or medical supplies while you isolate at home.
Think about what you will do if you become a close contact or test positive for Covid-19 while you are away. If you are unable to return home safely to isolate, you may need to stay where you are (in your holiday accommodation) or find alternative accommodation. You may need to cancel or reschedule flights or other travel bookings.
If you experience any Covid-19 symptoms, get tested immediately and follow the quarantine and isolation advice on HealthyWA. Do not wait until you get home to get tested and isolate.
If you or a family member are holidaying in regional or remote WA and experience Covid-19 symptoms, RATs offer a quick and easy way to test for Covid-19. If you’re unable to access RATs, the Covid-19 testing clinics page on the HealthyWA website lists testing options in metropolitan Perth and regional WA. You will need to isolate while you wait for your test result, and then follow the relevant testing or isolation protocol.
If you have travelled by private transport, you can return home to isolate if it is safe to do so. You must:
• be well enough to travel
• have access to private transport
• take the most direct route without stopping
• carry proof of ID, including address
• have enough food, water, medicine, masks, hand sanitiser and fuel with you to complete the trip home without stopping
• if you need to make an urgent purchase (including fuel), it must be contactless
Heading into winter, it’s even more sensible to keep up healthy hygiene including handwashing, staying up to date with your Covid-19 boosters and getting your influenza vaccine.
You can learn more about COVID-safe travel at healthywa.gov.au/COVIDsafetravel.
