COVID-19 update 15 February 2021: Case #903

The Department of Health would like to clarify some information circulating in the media and community related to case #903.

Whilst patient confidentiality limits the information the Department can report, it can be confirmed that:

• Case #903 has greatly assisted with Department of Health contact tracers in every instance, and as a result, the Department was able to alert the community quickly.
• The Department of Health is grateful to the assistance and cooperation of case #903, close contacts and the broader community. This compliance and assistance have contributed to Western Australia’s quick response and recovery.
• Case #903 complied with all requirements of their work, and testing regimes for State-run hotel quarantine workers.
• Case #903 met the national case definitions for a confirmed case of COVID-19. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed on multiple PCR tests performed by the state’s referral laboratory at PathWest.
• Whole genome sequence from a sample from case #903 was found to match the whole genome sequence of a sample from a traveller in the hotel in which he worked.
• Case #903 experienced symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19. 
• Case #903 currently remains in hotel isolation. His clearance and subsequent release from quarantine is being managed by public health experts in accordance with national guidelines. In general, the National Guidelines require a negative PCR result prior to clearance.
• More than 500 close and casual contacts identified as part of the contact tracing process have returned negative test results.
• More than 102,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted across Western Australia from 31 January to 13 February.

The Department requests that the appropriate actions of case #903 in following due process and assisting contract tracers with their work be recognised by the Western Australian community, as well as case #903’s right to privacy.

Western Australians are also reminded that anyone who is symptomatic should get a COVID-19 test immediately. Details of all clinics are available on the HealthyWA website

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

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