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, believed to be linked to the Delta backpacker cluster, and six cases related to returned overseas and interstate travellers.
These eight new cases of COVID-19 are all in quarantine.
The State’s total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 1176.
Four new cases are linked to interstate travel returning from Queensland just before the State transitioned to extreme risk, two are related to international travel and two are believed to be related to the Delta backpacker cluster who have been infectious in the community.
While the two new cases in the community are not known contacts of confirmed cases in the Delta backpacker cluster, they are part of the backpacker community and contact tracers are investigating how they acquired the virus. The total number of cases related to the Delta backpacker cluster now stands at 18, which includes the index case.
WA Health has now identified 779 close contacts associated with the cluster; 756 have returned a negative result and 23 are yet to be tested. Of the 1635 casual contacts identified, 1225 have now tested negative, with 219 yet to be tested. Of the 503 close contacts linked to the Perth Mess Hall 489 have now tested negative and four are yet to be tested.*
The case of the vaccinated hotel quarantine security guard reported yesterday, remains under investigation. To date 14 close contacts of this case have been identified, 11 have tested negative, two results are pending, and one is yet to be tested. Of the 27 casual contacts identified 19 have tested negative, three results are pending and five are yet to be tested.
There are now 45 active confirmed cases in WA and 1121 people have recovered from the virus.
Exposure sites
WA Health’s contact tracing team is working to confirm any new exposure sites Linked to the Delta backpack cluster and vaccinated hotel quarantine security guard.
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 must:
- 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
3,423 Western Australians were swabbed at clinics yesterday.
WA Health is expanding testing capacity, including operating hours of clinics over the holiday 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, 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 2 January, 1,377,136 scans were recorded on the Safe WA App. This is a 44 per cent increase from the previous day, noting that many venues had limited opening hours or were closed on New Year’s Day.
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 5512 vaccines yesterday.
People are reminded that it is important 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 until it is too late - act now and get vaccinated.
From tomorrow, Tuesday January 4, the interval between second and third dose will reduce from five to four or more months.
From tomorrow the Joondalup COVID-19 vaccination clinic will re-open from a new location at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre. The new clinic will be located off Joondalup Drive on the western side of the shopping centre, with access from the outside of the building.
In addition, to help manage the current increased demand for walk-in vaccinations, there will be staffed booths operating in the Great Space area near the shopping centre information counter and the mobile vaccination bus will also be on-site at Lakeside Joondalup to provide vaccinations next week.
A new fixed clinic at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC) is expected to open on Monday, 10 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).
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, 216 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia – including 19 Omicron strain, 53 Alpha strain, 15 Beta strain, one Gamma strain and 128 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.
** WA vaccination data for the WA COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard is sourced from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). AIR is a national register maintained by the Australian Government that records all vaccines given to all people in Australia. WA data includes all COVID-19 vaccinations in WA, whether administered by WA Health, Australian Government providers or other providers (including GPs). WA previously reported only WA Health data. Note that the dashboard does not update until after 2pm Monday to Friday. A vaccine dashboard data interpretation guide (external site) is also available to help you.
*** From 4 January 2022, booster vaccinations will be available four months after a person has received their second dose.
**** A vaccine dashboard data interpretation guide (external site) is also available to help you.