7 October 2020

COVID-19 Measures on Christmas & Cocos (Keeling) Islands

As at 7 October, there are NO cases of COVID-19 in the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT).

CI Territories Week and COVID safety

The Christmas Island Territory Week celebrations were held last weekend. The event planning and organisation ensured that businesses and the community were well protected and risks minimised. Thanks to all of the participants for adhering to the COVID-19 plans, the community was able to enjoy the festivities in a safe way.

WA border control update

The WA Premier announced some changes to WA border controls outlined below (source https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-wa). We will continue to monitor WA’s announcements to ensure our compliance in light of the WA/IOT Travel Zone. The next review date for WA is 25 October 2020.   

Excerpt from https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-wa:

COVID-19 coronavirus: Travel to WA 
Exemptions for entering WA from interstate or overseas.
Strict border controls are in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
You cannot enter WA unless you are an exempt traveller. The Quarantine (Closing the Border) Directions, as amended, set out exempt traveller categories. Entry into Western Australia may be subject to terms and conditions, including a requirement to quarantine for 14 days. You may apply for an exemption via G2G PASS.
The categories of "exempt traveller" are set out in detail in the Directions. It is important that any person who is seeking to enter Western Australia reads and understands the categories of exempt traveller that are set out in the Directions.  In summary, the categories include: 

• any person performing a function under a Commonwealth law
• truck drivers who deliver goods to Western Australia as part of their normal duties
• people with specialist skills, involved in time-sensitive critical maintenance or repair of critical infrastructure 
• people employed in agriculture, food production or primary industry who need to be in Western Australia
• FIFO workers, subject to requirements to isolate for 14 days at an approved location at their employer's expense 
• emergency service workers 
• compassionate grounds – including urgent and essential medical treatment, visiting a relative who has suffered a serious medical episode, or whose death is imminent, and to attend a funeral  
• members of the House of Representatives and Senators of the Commonwealth Parliament
• carers and relatives who need to care for a dependent person in Western Australia
• dependent persons who need to enter Western Australia to be cared for by a carer or relative because they can no longer be cared for interstate 
• people whose residential facility, such as a boarding school, has closed, who need to return to Western Australia to stay with family or a carer 
• people who need to enter Western Australia to comply with a court order.

What if I have been in Victoria or NSW in the last 14 days?
Travellers who have been in Victoria or New South Wales in the previous 14 days will not be allowed into WA, unless they fall into one of the following categories: 

• certain senior Government Officials 
• certain active military personnel 
• a member of the Commonwealth Parliament and any members of their staff travelling with them 
• a person carrying out functions under a law of the Commonwealth 
• the Premier of WA and any members of the Premier's staff 
• a person coming to WA at the request of the Chief Health Officer or the Director General of Health 
• any person (other than an airline or maritime crew member) responsible for transport or freight and logistics services into or out of WA
• In addition, persons falling into the above categories are required to comply with certain hygiene requirements during the 14 days after the date they entered WA. 

If you have been in Victoria or New South Wales in the previous 14 days and do not fall into the above categories, you will not be permitted to enter WA unless you have written approval from the State Emergency Coordinator (or a person authorised by the State Emergency Coordinator) and comply with any terms and conditions imposed on entry to WA. This may include quarantine requirements. 

For more information please see our frequently asked questions for people arriving from Victoria and NSW.

IOT travel application statistics

You may find it interesting to know that since the IOT WA travel zone was announced on 24 July 2020, we have received more than 4,500 applications to travel to the IOT from WA. Of those applications, 58% applied to travel to Christmas Island and 42% applied to travel to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. 

Applications for travel to Christmas Island    
CI leisure traveller 31%
CI travelling for work 69%

Applications for travel to Cocos (Keeling) Islands 
CKI leisure traveller 78%
CKI travelling for work 22%
 

Territory Controller updates

As the COVID-19 response continues and we align with the WA timetable for review of measures, the Territory Controllers updates will be issued fortnightly on our local response, preparedness and measures.

As always, we will issue communications on urgent or time critical matters as needed. Individual queries can be directed to iotadministrator@infrastructure.gov.au

IOT WA travel zone

Under the travel zone arrangements with Western Australia, you are exempt from quarantine requirements if you have not been outside WA or the IOT in the 14 days prior to your entry date. You will still need to apply for entry to WA.

All entry into WA requires a WA Entry – Request for Approval as an Exempt Traveller application.

People are encouraged to apply using the “Good to Go Pass” app which can be completed electronically. It can be found at https://www.g2gpass.com.au/. For anyone that is experiencing difficulties with obtaining approval from WA Police, please email iotadministrator@infrastructure.gov.au for assistance.

IOT to WA – how to complete the WA application:

• Nominate “Persons otherwise seeking to enter WA”
• In the free text field, detail the nature of travel:
  – entering under the Quarantine (Closing the Borders) Direction: Exempt Traveller (Indian Ocean Territories Traveller) Approval Under Paragraph 27(r)
  – declare that in the last 14 days prior to entry into WA, you have not been outside the IOT or WA (noting that there is a penalty for providing false information)
  – provide details of your travel, including where you are travelling to and from, dates of travel and reason for travel. Add additional supporting documentation as required.

Information on the WA-IOT travel zone exemption is available here: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/exempt-traveller-approval-indian-ocean-territories

All IOT entry and travel requirements remain unchanged – people must apply for approval to travel to the IOT using the electronic application form https://indianoceanterritories.wufoo.com/forms/iot-traveller-request-form/.

Be COVIDSafe, keep COVID-free

There are still no cases of COVID-19 in the IOT. However, with the ongoing community transmission on Australia’s east coast, it is a timely reminder to be COVIDSafe. 

COVIDSafe means maintaining at least 1.5 metres between you and others at all times, regularly washing your hands with soap, staying at home if you’re sick and getting tested if you have cold or flu-like symptoms.

If you have previously been tested for COVID but start to feel sick again, get re-tested. Stay at home while you wait for your results.

Wash your hands to stop the spread - clean hands keep you healthy and help stop the spread of germs.

Regularly wash your hands for 20–30 seconds with soap. Remember to wash in between your fingers, the back of your hands and your thumbs. 

Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, when you’re preparing food, before or after eating, and after you have been out.

Hand sanitiser is a good alternative when soap and water aren’t available.

Looking after your mental health

It is important to reach out if you need support during the pandemic. The IOT Health Service has an excellent Managing Stress and Anxiety booklet, which includes a wide range of local and national resources. On island, you can speak to a health professional. For Christmas Island (CI), call 9164 8333, for Cocos (Keeling) Islands call 9162 7609 on Home Island or 9162 6655 on West island. The community social worker on CI can be contacted on 9164 8333 ext 128 or via text on 0447 975 436. People who are concerned about their children can speak with the CIDHS school psychologist. Those with private health cover may also choose to engage with their psychologist of choice via telehealth.

The Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (headtohealth.gov.au) connects people to free, low cost phone, and online mental health services and supports from some of Australia’s most trusted mental health organisations. It is a good place to start if you, or someone you care about, might need some help coping with anxiety and worry. More information on mental health measures can be found at https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-national-health-plan-supporting-the-mental-health-of-australians-through-the-coronavirus-pandemic.

Who do I call for help, support or advice about Family Violence?

It is important that you know you can reach out for support even during the current State of Emergency. Family violence services across the IOTs are available for support and advice for anyone experiencing family violence or who is worried about how potential self-isolation or changes to your routine due to COVID-19 will impact on your safety and well-being. 

If you need support, you can contact the health services, our social worker or police on the following numbers:

Christmas Island 

• Christmas island Health Services 9164-8333 
• Christmas Island Community Policing Team 9164-8444  
• Social Worker Narelle Phone 9164 8333 ext 128 or 0447 975 436

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

• Home Island Clinic 9162-7609
• West Island Clinic 9162-6655
• Cocos Community Policing Team 9162-6600  

Legal Aid WA

• 9261 6356 or
• CI Office 9164 7529

If you feel unsafe or are concerned for someone’s safety, please call 000 

Emergency Management Committee

The Territory Controllers in conjunction with the Administrator convene a fortnightly Emergency Management Committee (EMC) meeting to provide updates on decisions and actions taken to maintain a COVID-19-free IOT.  Each member of the EMC provides an update on current and future actions their organisations is undertaking to manage COVID-19 measures.

• The next Christmas Island Emergency Management Committee meeting will be Wednesday, 14 October 2020 11.00am Christmas Island time.  
• The next Cocos (Keeling) Islands Emergency Management Committee meeting will be Thursday 15 October 2020 1pm Cocos (Keeling) Islands time.