COVID-19

Statutory notification

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) infection is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (PDF 1.3MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 214KB) or regional residents (PDF 213KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units (Healthy WA).
• See also description of Statutory medical notifications in Western Australia (external site).

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
• Transmission: SARS-CoV-2 is spread through respiratory droplets and aerosols, direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces.
• Incubation period: Estimated 1 to 14 days, usually 5 to 6 days.
• Infectious period: People are usually infectious from 2 days prior to onset of symptoms, or 2 days prior to first positive test if asymptomatic, until ‘Release from Isolation’ criteria have been met as per the Coronavirus (COVID-19), CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units (external site).
• Signs and symptoms: Generally acute respiratory symptoms including cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, and runny nose/nasal congestion. Other symptoms may include fever, headaches, myalgia, nausea vomiting or diarrhoea. Loss of smell and taste can occur but is less common with the current variant of the disease.
• Case exclusion: Contacts should get tested and avoid high-risk settings if symptomatic. 
• Contact exclusion: Contacts should get tested as per existing protocols (external site). Contacts should avoid high-risk settings as per existing protocols (external site).
• Treatment: Generally bed rest and symptomatic treatment. Antiviral treatment is available. Although rare, severe disease requiring hospitalisation may occur.
• Immunisation: Vaccine-preventable disease (see COVID-19 immunisation and the HealthyWA COVID-19 vaccine page).Specific businesses and/or professions may require their staff and visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Case follow-up: With the current variant of disease, public health action focuses on outbreaks in high-risk settings such as residential aged care facilities.

Guidelines

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection National Guidelines for Public Health Units (external site)
• National Outbreak Management Guideline for Acute Respiratory Infection (including COVID-19, influenza and RSV) in Residential Aged Care Homes (external site)
• COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control in Western Australian Healthcare Facilities (PDF 471KB)
• Communicable Disease Guidelines for teachers, childcare workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners.
• Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – COVID-19 (external site)
• PHLN guidance on laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) (external site)
• Testing criteria for SARS-CoV-2 in Western Australia #42 (PDF 373KB)

Notifiable disease data and reports

• COVID-19 surveillance reports
• COVID-19 wastewater surveillance
• COVID-19 clinician alert archive
• General infectious disease reports

Further information

• COVID-19 (HealthyWA)
• COVID-19 immunisation
• COVID-19 advice for the health sector (external site)
• COVID-19 vaccines