COVID live updates: All the coronavirus news you need in the one place – ABC News

WA travel applications 'streaming in': Commissioner(ABC News: Herlyn Kaur)

WA policehave urged more than 24,000 people stuck outside of Western Australia to resubmit their G2G applications to re-enter the state ahead of an expansion of the travel exemption rules.

Several callers to ABC Radio Perth this morning said their G2G applications were now suddenly being approved after being repeatedly rejected.

Western Australia currently classifies every other state and territory as an "extreme" COVID risk,meaningexemptions to enter are limited to specific Commonwealth and state employees and 'specialist functions'only.

It has left hundreds of people locked out of WA despitemany having family or other close links to the state.

But the exemption rules are set tochange on February 5, the original date for the nowindefinitely delayed border opening.

The list of exemptions will expand to include returning West Australians with strong recent connections or direct family connections in WA, those returning on compassionate grounds, such as funerals and palliative care, and for urgent or essential medical treatment.

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said 24,237 people had been asked to re-submit their G2G applications.

"And as I say, we've already had 10,000 already apply and they're streaming in at the moment," Mr Dawson said.

"And over the next week, we'll do this as efficiently as we can."

Lyndal Malarkeyis currently in Melbourne and has been trying to get home to Perth for more than a year.

She said her mother had cancer last year and she was desperate to get back in, but her applications were knocked back 10 times.

This morning it was approved.

"I got on straight away this morning as soon as they updated the system, put in my G2G, as all my family live in Perth and we're relocating and it got approved," she told ABC Radio Perth.

"So, I'm over the moon.

"I was shocked and thrilled to get such a fast response."

Ms Malarkey and other people whose G2G passes were approved wouldstill be required to isolate for 14 days on arrival.

They must alsobe triple vaccinated or have had a double dose if not eligible for the booster, unless they have amedical exemption.

They will also have to show proof of a negative rapid antigenor PCR test within 24 hours of departure.

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COVID live updates: All the coronavirus news you need in the one place - ABC News