Exposure sites will continue to be updated on the HealthyWA website. People are encouraged to check this site regularly.
WA Health has reported one new local COVID-19 case in Western Australia.
This case, which will be officially counted in tomorrow’s numbers, attended the Perth Mess Hall event, and was also staying at a hostel linked to a previous local case. This person tested positive while in quarantine and is not considered to have been contagious while in the community.
This brings the total number of locally acquired cases to eight. All cases related to this outbreak are assumed to be Delta, following confirmation that this is the strain the index case has.
In addition, one other case was reported overnight. This case is related to overseas travel and is in hotel quarantine.
There are now 18 active confirmed cases in WA, 15 in quarantine hotels and three in self-quarantine.
To date, WA Health has identified 548 close contacts and 998 casual contacts.
WA Health’s contact tracing team is working to identify and follow up contacts and confirm exposure sites. See below information for exposure sites.
The State’s total stands at 1143, with 1116 people recovered.
Exposure sites
Exposure sites are listed on the HealthyWA website. It’s likely more sites will be added and people are encouraged to keep checking the site regularly.
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 are also available. 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 arrive 15 minutes before closing if possible.
Safe WA
On 25 December, 172,296 scans were recorded on the Safe WA App. This was an expected decrease due to it being Christmas day, down from 2,118,167 scans recorded on 24 December 2021.
Border controls
Queensland update
WA has transitioned its border arrangements with Queensland from ‘Medium’ to High. Travel from Queensland will not be permitted, unless a person is an approved traveller.
South Australia update
WA has transitioned its border arrangements with South Australia from ‘Medium’ to High. Travel from South Australia will not be permitted, unless a person is an approved traveller.
Tasmania update
Border controls with Tasmania have now transitioned to a hard border (from 12.01am this morning). 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 has also been introduced with the Northern Territory (from 12.01am this morning).
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*
COVID-19 State-run vaccination clinics were closed yesterday, but are open again today.
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
3,387 Western Australians were swabbed at clinics yesterday.
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, 196 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia – including nine Omicron strain, 53 Alpha strain, 15 Beta strain, one Gamma strain and 118 Delta strain.
Visit WA Health’s HealthyWA website for the latest information on COVID-19.
Follow us on Twitter: WAHealth
* Additional data on vaccination breakdown (including those administered by Australian Government providers or other providers (including GPs)) will be reported again on Wednesday, 29 December.
A vaccine dashboard data interpretation guide (external site) is also available to help you.