Exposure sites will continue to be updated on the HealthyWA website. People are encouraged to check this site regularly.
WA Health has reported eight new cases of COVID-19 overnight, three were local cases and five are travel related.
Of the local cases, one is a close contact related to the Delta backpacker cluster, while the other two are household contacts of a traveller from Queensland in self -quarantine. All three were isolating while infectious and remain in self-quarantine.
The total number of cases related to the Delta backpacker cluster now stands at 23, which includes the index case.
Of the five cases related to travel, two new cases are related to recent travellers from Tasmania, one is a recent traveller from the ACT, one is an international traveller and one case relates to a member of an interstate flight crew. All of these cases are in quarantine.
The eight cases reported brings the State’s total number of COVID-19 cases now to 1239.
In relation to the case of the hotel quarantine security guard at the Hyatt Hotel and his household contact who tested positive – together there are 33 contacts in total so far, and all have tested negative.
There are now 89 active confirmed cases in WA and 1138 people have recovered from the virus.
Exposure sites
WA Health’s contact tracing team is working to confirm any new exposure sites as a result of the Delta backpack cluster and the cases of the hotel quarantine security guards.
Exposure sites are listed on the HealthyWA website. It is 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
6, 169 Western Australians were swabbed at clinics during the weekend.
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 9 January, 1,319,879 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 state-run vaccination clinics administered vaccines 32,120 during the weekend.
As WA heads towards transition the demand for vaccinations and boosters 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 people are asked the visit the Roll up for WA site for details.
People are 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 booster 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, 267 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia – including 64 Omicron strain, 53 Alpha strain, 15 Beta strain, one Gamma strain and 135 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.