WA Health has reported five new local cases of COVID-19 overnight. All new cases are in quarantine.
Three are related to the Delta backpacker cluster. Two of these cases are considered to have been infectious while in the community. Exposure sites will be released as soon as possible, once confirmed.
The total number of cases related to the Delta backpacker cluster now stands at 21, which includes the index case.
A fourth local case is a vaccinated quarantine hotel security guard and is not linked to the Delta backpacker cluster. The guard returned a positive test result on a daily routine oral swab (undertaken as part of his employment). Any identified close contacts will be asked to isolate and will be tested.
The fifth local case is a household contact of a previously announced case related to interstate travel. They are in isolation.
The remaining 11 cases are related to interstate and overseas arrivals. All are in isolation. One of these cases is related to a truck driver who is considered to have been infectious while in the community. Exposure sites will be released as soon as possible, once confirmed.
The 16 cases reported brings the State’s total number of COVID-19 cases now to 1206.
WA Health has identified 787 close contacts associated with the Backpacker cluster; 775 have produced a negative result; and 12 are yet to be tested. There are also 1464 casual contacts, 1245 have tested negative and 214 are yet to be tested.*
The genomic sequencing for the vaccinated hotel quarantine security guard, who was announced Sunday, has come back as the Omicron variant. Investigations are continuing. To date 15 close contacts have been identified, 15 have returned a negative result. Of the 8 casual contacts identified, all have returned a negative result.*
There are now 68 active confirmed cases in WA and 1128 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 case of the hotel quarantine security guard.
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
6,179 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 4 January, 1,834,952 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 14,067 vaccines yesterday.
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 Joondalup COVID-19 vaccination clinic has now re-opened at a new location at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre. The new clinic is 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 are 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 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, 219 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia – including 21 Omicron strain, 53 Alpha strain, 15 Beta strain, one Gamma strain and 129 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.