The very latest Covid news from WA Health

Here’s the media statement issued by the WA Health late this afternoon.

Good news is the covid positive man’s very close contacts have tested negative so far.

Here’s the detail.

WA Health has reported one new COVID-19 case in Western Australia overnight.

As of last night’s reporting there were eight active confirmed cases in WA, six in quarantine hotels and two in self-quarantine.

As announced today, and to be included in tomorrow’s reporting period, a man in his 20s has tested positive to COVID-19. The man developed symptoms and went to get tested on December 22 at a COVID-19 clinic. The positive test result was returned today, December 23.

The man, who is from overseas, arrived in Perth from QLD on Sunday, December 12. This was before WA’s border arrangements with QLD changed at 12.01am on Monday, December 13.

The case’s partner, a female in her 20s, has been tested and has returned a negative result from a rapid PCR test. The female traveller was vaccinated against COVID-19. Both travellers are now in hotel quarantine.

Four household contacts of the pair have also been tested and returned negative results from rapid PCR tests. These contacts were also vaccinated against COVID-19 and are in hotel quarantine.

WA Health’s contact tracing team is working to identify and follow up contacts and confirm exposure sites.

Other contacts are being identified by public health officials. See below information for exposure sites.

The other new case reported today is unrelated and is in hotel quarantine.

There are now 38 close contacts linked to the two cases who arrived from Brisbane on flight VA470 from Brisbane on 19 December. Most of these are from the surrounding rows on the plane, and 38 have tested negative. This includes four household contacts and a further close contact who had visited the house.

There are 141 casual contacts, most of these are from the plane, but not on surrounding rows. Of these 123 have tested negative.

Other passengers from the flight must comply with existing quarantine arrangements as per WA’s border with QLD; and get tested under these requirements. These people should monitor for symptoms.

The State’s total stands at 1131 and 1114 people have recovered from the virus.

Exposure sites

Exposure sites will be listed on the HealthyWA website It’s likely more sites will be added. People are encouraged to keep checking the site regularly.

(The sites including the almost too good to be true Bloody French restaurant!)

If you have been to an exposure site on the dates and times listed, or you are contacted directly by WA Health, you are urged to:

*immediately isolate from others in your home.
*get tested at a COVID-19 clinic, wear a mask and travel directly there.
*continue to isolate until a negative result is returned, unless instructed otherwise by WA Health.

Clinic locations are on the Healthy WA website.

Testing clinics

WA Health is expanding testing capacity, including operating hours of clinics, over the Christmas period. There are many clinics available – people are encouraged to check the HealthyWA website to find clinic locations and opening hours.

Private clinics will be available also. Testing is available free of charge at private testing clinics for people who have been advised by WA Health to get tested.

With the hot weather, people are encouraged to plan ahead and bring a hat or umbrella, sunscreen and water, and to try to arrive 15 minutes before closing if possible.

Border controls

Queensland update

WA has transitioned its border arrangements with Queensland from ‘Low’ risk to ‘Medium’ risk. Travel from Queensland will not be permitted, unless a person is an approved traveller.

Tasmania update

Border controls with Tasmania will transition to a hard border from 12.01am Sunday 26 December. Travel from these jurisdictions will not be permitted, unless a person is an approved traveller.

Northern Territory update

Based on the latest health advice, a hard border will be introduced with the Northern Territory from 12.01am Sunday, December 26.

NSW update

Based on the latest health advice, WA transitioned its border arrangement with New South Wales from ‘High’ risk to an ‘Extreme’ risk category on Saturday, 18 December 2021.

Information about Western Australia’s controlled border arrangements, conditions of entry and quarantine is available online.

COVID-19 vaccinations*

Since vaccination numbers were reported yesterday, 30,753 COVID-19 vaccine doses were recorded in WA, 14,498 of these were second doses. The total includes 12,092 historic COVID-19 vaccine doses*. These figures represent COVID-19 vaccinations at State-run clinics and doses given as part of the Commonwealth rollout**.

People are reminded that it is more important now than ever for everyone who has received their second dose of the COVID-19 five or more months ago to get their booster vaccination now without delay to ensure they have maximum protection again COVID-19. Do not wait till it is too late, act now and get vaccinated.

For the latest WA vaccination figures, visit the COVID-19 Coronavirus: Vaccination dashboard (external site)**.

Testing clinics

Yesterday, 708 people were swabbed at State-run clinics.* A list of all testing clinics is available on the HealthyWA website.

Mandatory vaccination information

A mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for a majority of occupations and workforces in WA is being introduced in a phased approach. For more information on getting your COVID-19 vaccine, visit: https://rollup.wa.gov.au/

Variants

To date, 195 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia – including two Omicron strain, 53 Alpha strain, 15 Beta strain, one Gamma strain and 117 Delta strain.

Visit WA Health’s HealthyWA website for the latest information on COVID-19.