Exposure sites will continue to be updated on the HealthyWA website. People are encouraged to check this site regularly.
WA Health has reported two new local COVID-19 cases and 14 travel-related cases since 8pm last night.
One of the new cases is linked to the Hyatt Hotel cluster and the other case is a household contact of another previously announced case related to interstate travel. Both cases are in quarantine.
Investigations continue into how case 1260, the woman announced yesterday who acquired the virus from an unknown source, was exposed to COVID-19. Genomic sequencing is underway to determine the variant. This case is in quarantine. Household contacts have been tested and are negative.
Based on the most available information from contact tracers, the woman was infectious in the community but did not attend work and there are likely only a limited number of potential exposure sites. Exposure sites related to this case were released yesterday afternoon and further sites may be added.
Testing advice
As we have had a number of exposure sites in the City of Cockburn, it is essential that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms be tested immediately. Given that people might have moved outside of this area, it is also strongly recommended that anyone in the Perth metropolitan area who has symptoms gets tested immediately. A full list of testing clinics is available on Healthy WA website.
Hotel case
Yesterday a COVID-19 positive case, self-quarantining in a city hotel, travelled in a ride share vehicle a short distance to the RPH testing clinic.
WA Health has strict protocols in place at all testing clinics and identified that this person should be in self-quarantine. WA Health arranged for a St John Ambulance dedicated COVID ambulance to return the person to the hotel and continue their self-quarantine.
WA Health and WA Police Force are working to locate the ride-share driver.
The risk to the community is considered to be extremely low, as it is unlikely this case is still infectious.
Other cases
Eleven of the other new cases related to returned interstate travellers and three cases are related to overseas travellers. All are in quarantine.
There are currently 117 active confirmed cases in WA. Of these, 45 are in hotel quarantine and 72 are in self-quarantine.
In the last 24 hours there has been a continued surge in first vaccinations in Western Australia.
These 16 new cases bring the State’s total number of COVID-19 cases to 1276.
1157 people have recovered from the virus.
Exposure sites
WA Health’s contact tracing team continues to identify a new range of exposure sites linked to new cases and it is likely exposure sites will continue to be added.
Exposure sites are listed on the HealthyWA website.
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
4,517 Western Australians were swabbed at clinics yesterday.
WA Health is expanding testing capacity, including operating hours of clinics. 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, or who have been present at exposure sites at the times listed on the HealthyWA website.
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 12 January, 1,673,184 scans were recorded on the Safe WA App.
Border controls
Information about Western Australia’s controlled border arrangements, conditions of entry and quarantine is available online.
COVID-19 vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccination clinics administered 35,894 vaccines in WA yesterday.
Demand for vaccinations and third doses is increasing. Recently clinics have experienced some of their busiest days with surges in demand from walk-in patrons which has resulted in some people without bookings unfortunately being turned away so that people with bookings could be accommodated.
Our clinics have the capacity to provide the vaccinations, however, to spread the demand across clinic operating hours to avoid excessive wait times, we are asking people to make a booking via Vaccinate WA.
What is important to note is that vaccinations are also available at GPs and pharmacies and we encourage people to take up those options. There are hundreds of locations across the State and people are asked the visit the Roll up for WA site for details.
People are also reminded that it is important for everyone who has received their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine four or more months ago to get their third dose vaccination now without delay to ensure they have maximum protection again COVID-19. Do not wait until it is too late - act now and get vaccinated.
The Claremont COVID-19 vaccination clinic is now located in the Jim Webster Pavilion at Claremont Showgrounds. Entry is still via Gate 8 off Ashton Avenue. The nearest train station is Loch Street station; there is also onsite parking available.
Appointments already booked will be automatically transferred.
A new fixed clinic at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC) is expected to open in mid-January 2022. This replaces a pop-up vaccination clinic that opened at the PCEC on December 26, 2021.
For the latest WA vaccination figures, visit the COVID-19 Coronavirus: Vaccination dashboard (external site)**. For the latest Commonwealth data visit the Vaccination Numbers and Statistics 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, 291 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia – including 85 Omicron strain, 53 Alpha strain, 15 Beta strain, one Gamma strain and 137 Delta strain.
Visit WA Health’s HealthyWA website for the latest information on COVID-19.
Follow us on Twitter: WAHealth
*The number of close and casual contacts is not static and may change as further information becomes available. Close contacts are added when identified and intensive investigations to locate them are undertaken.
**A vaccine dashboard data interpretation guide (external site) is also available to help you.