Western Australia's COVID-19 testing capacity has come under immense pressure within just hours of reintroducing border restrictions to NSW, with the government extending opening hours at all clinics in response.
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Hundreds of people queued to get tested across Perth on Friday morning as travellers scrambled to deal with the new requirements.
Under changes that came into effect overnight, anyone arriving from NSW - where a cluster on Sydney's northern beaches has jumped to 28 people - is required to self-quarantine for 14 days and get tested on day 11.
People who arrived before the midnight cutoff but have been in NSW since December 11 were contacted on Thursday afternoon and told to get tested as soon as possible and to self-quarantine until they returned a negative result.
But some were turned away without being tested, with clinics unable to cope with the long queues despite staying open later than usual.
"It's ridiculous. Don't call us in an emergency to come in for testing and then you can't test us," one man told the Seven Network's Sunrise program.
Premier Mark McGowan says almost 2000 people presented at clinics on Thursday, about four times the usual daily number.
Contact tracing staff are following up with 87 people who have arrived from Sydney's northern beaches.
"I know many people have been caught in long lines and have had to wait for long periods," Mr McGowan told reporters on Friday.
"Everyone is doing the best they can to respond in these very difficult circumstances."
Testing clinics at Royal Perth Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital will be open from 8am to 8pm for the next three days, while Joondalup Hospital's clinic will remain open til 10pm on Friday.
Additional staff are also being put in place across the state's clinics.
The premier announced the return to 14-day quarantine for NSW travellers late on Thursday after chairing an emergency meeting of key officials.
WA's chief health officer Andy Robertson has subsequently advised the government not to make further border changes.
But a return to a hard border, barring anyone from NSW from entering WA without an exemption, could follow in coming days.
"There is no doubt NSW is on the verge of a serious outbreak and we must do whatever is required to keep us safe," Mr McGowan said, adding that he understood how difficult it would be for families with just a week until Christmas.
The premier said his government would continue to closely monitor the situation in NSW with seven flights scheduled to arrive from Sydney on Friday.
Just 10 days have passed since WA finally reopened its borders to NSW and Victoria, removing the 14-day quarantine requirement for travellers from those states.
Australian Associated Press
