23/12/2021
Masks back on from 6pm tonight! 😷
Today I can announce that Western Australia has recorded a new local case of COVID-19 - a backpacker from Queensland.
The man - Case 1,133 - travelled to WA on December 12, when Queensland was classified as a ‘very low risk’ jurisdiction – meaning he was not required to be tested prior to arrival.
He arrived just before our border controls with Queensland were strengthened at 12.01am Monday, 13 December.
After developing symptoms, he went to get a test. This morning, his test returned a strong positive.
His girlfriend is symptomatic, and has been tested and moved into hotel quarantine, as well as the four people he has been living with.
A number of potential exposure sites have been identified across Perth, including in East Perth, Mirrabooka, Joondalup, Girrawheen, Perth and the CBD, Subiaco, Northbridge and Scarborough – with more likely to be identified in the coming days.
A comprehensive list can be found at https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Coronavirus/Locations-visited-by-confirmed-cases and www.wa.gov.au with all the specific exposure dates and times.
If you have been to any of the exposure sites – or if you are feeling unwell – it is important to get tested.
Clinics are in the process of being ramped up. They will stay open tonight until 10pm, and will keep operating throughout Christmas and Boxing Day.
Health staff are working to piece together a clearer picture of the level of risk to our community, but as we know, when it comes to COVID, the situation can change very dramatically and very quickly.
That is why it is important we take immediate steps to limit any potential spread until we get a better understanding of the level of transmission from Case 1,133.
So, from 6pm tonight, until at least 6am Tuesday December 28, the following rules will apply across Perth and Peel:
- Masks will be mandatory in all public indoor settings, including workplaces, shopping centres, hospitality venues and public transport
- The mask mandate will not apply to the home, and will not apply for people doing vigorous indoor exercise
- We are recommending masks be worn outside when you cannot physically distance - so we are urging people to use common sense
- High risk, large public events like music festivals will be cancelled during this period and all nightclubs will be closed. All dancing will be banned, except for weddings
- In addition, the mask rules will also apply to anyone who has been in Perth or Peel since Thursday, 16 December and are now located in a different part of the State
I know this is not the news we wanted to hear two days before Christmas, but unfortunately this is the reality of COVID-19.
No matter how hard our border controls – the virus can sneak into WA.
We now need to face the potential of community transmission in Perth and Peel.
That’s why I’m asking everyone – to please do the right thing.
While our contact tracers and testing staff do their work – we all need to do our bit.
Let’s follow the rules, wear a mask, and get vaccinated if you haven’t already - and please go and get tested if you're unwell or have been to an exposure site.
