WA Health has reported one new local case of COVID-19 overnight not related to the Delta backpacker cluster. This case is in quarantine.
The case is a household contact of a previously announced local case – the security guard based at the Hyatt Hotel. Any identified close contacts will be asked to isolate and will be tested.
Genomic sequencing for the security guard based at the Hyatt Hotel is yet to be received and investigations remain underway as to how he was infected.
Genomic sequencing for the Pan Pacific security guard has linked him to two overseas arrivals that were on the same floor he worked on prior to becoming a case. However, there is no current evidence from investigations undertaken that there has been transmission between other guests/rooms at the hotel. The security guard’s close and casual contacts continue to be monitored daily. All close and casual contacts have so far tested negative.
There have been no new cases related to the Delta backpacker cluster. The total number of cases related to the Delta backpacker cluster remains at 21, which includes the index case.
Six cases have also been reported related to interstate arrivals. Two of these cases relate to a traveller from Victoria, one case is from Queensland, one case is from New South Wales, one case is from Tasmania and one case is from the Northern Territory.
A further two cases have also been reported that are related to international flight crew.
All new interstate and overseas cases are in isolation.
The nine cases reported brings the State’s total number of COVID-19 cases now to 1215.
WA Health has identified 856 close contacts associated with the Backpacker cluster; 802 have produced a negative result; and 30 are yet to be tested. There are also 2334 casual contacts, 1543 have tested negative and 457 are yet to be tested.
There are now 74 active confirmed cases in WA and 1133 people have recovered from the virus.
The WA health system would like to thank all people who have assisted, and continue to assist, contact tracers for their information and ongoing cooperation.
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
6,422 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 5 January, 1,762,503 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 13,403 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, 246 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia – including 43 Omicron strain, 53 Alpha strain, 15 Beta strain, one Gamma strain and 134 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.