The Department of Health has confirmed two more positive tests for COVID-19 (Coronavirus), bringing the total to six confirmed cases in Western Australia.
Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Robertson reminded Western Australians while these two cases represented the first local cases of human-to-human transmission of COVID-19, it is still not considered community spread.
“All six cases have contracted the illness overseas or had close contact with someone has travelled overseas,” he said.
Three COVID clinics will begin operating in Perth from tomorrow at Royal Perth, Fiona Stanley and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospitals.
Dr Robertson said these walk-in clinics will triage patients presenting with suspected symptoms of COVID-19, with the capacity to test up to 200 people per day.
“Due to the increase in countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19, people who have recently travelled internationally and exhibit flu-like symptoms , or believe they have been in contact with a person infected with COVID-19 should seek medical advice,” he said
The Department of Health is urging people to remain home and self-isolate if they are undergoing testing, until the test results are provided, which can take up to 48 hours.
Dr Robertson said the Health Department continued to work around the clock to minimise the risk of community spread and reassured people the risk of contracting COVID-19 in Western Australia was currently low.
In WA, there have been 1796 negative test results on people tested locally for COVID-19.
See WA Health’s www.healthywa.wa.gov.au website for the latest information on COVID-19.
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