International arrivals to Western Australia will double to 530 per week from next Saturday, as the state reaches a 70 per cent double dose COVID-19 vaccination rate.
All overseas arrivals into WA will still be required to acquire a G2G pass and undergo 14 days of quarantine at a state-run facility.
Travellers will also be subject to three COVID-19 tests during their stay, as well as post-quarantine testing on days 17 and 21.
The international arrival cap for WA was decreased to 265 per week in July in a bid to relieve the pressure on quarantine facilities posed by the Delta strain of the virus.
Construction is already under way on Perth’s new 1,000-bed quarantine facility at Bullsbrook, with at least 500 beds expected to be in place by the end of March 2022.
The move comes after the state unveiled its COVID transition plan, under which the state would begin easing international border controls once it reaches a double dose vaccination rate of 90 per cent for those aged 12 and over.
According to WA Health, that milestone is expected to be reached between late January and early February 2022.
The state government has already flagged the reintroduction of restrictions when the transition begins, with mask wearing on public transport, in hospitals and aged care facilities.
There will also be capacity limits for various venues and proof of vaccination will be required for entry to nightclubs, casinos and major events.
The release of the plan followed the allocation of $400 million in additional funding for the state’s healthcare sector to prepare for the inevitable COVID outbreak.
