Strict new restrictions imposed on Western Australia by Premier Mark McGowan after Covid breach


Tough new restrictions imposed on Western Australia after Covid breach as the state records NO new local cases overnight – but threats of a lockdown loom

  • Western Australia recorded no new locally acquired cases of Covid on Sunday 
  • But a raft of strict restrictions will remain after security guard became infected 
  • He tested positive for the virus on Saturday, along with two of his housemates 
  • Restrictions include no AFL crowds, closed nightclubs and face masks outdoors  

Perth and the Peel region have avoided another lockdown for now after no further locally acquired coronavirus cases were detected but a raft of strict restrictions remain.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan confirmed the news on Sunday, 24 hours after a hotel quarantine security guard and two of his housemates tested positive.

Contact tracers are continuing to work through the movements of the three men but all 16 close contacts identified by WA Health as ‘high risk’ have returned negative tests.

Results are pending for a further four close contacts, while a another 136 contacts are deemed casual or yet to be classified. All the new cases and their close contacts must quarantine for 14 days.

Residents in Perth and the Peel region will  have to wear masks indoors and outdoors after a hotel quarantine security guard and two of his housemates tested positive for Covid

Residents in Perth and the Peel region will  have to wear masks indoors and outdoors after a hotel quarantine security guard and two of his housemates tested positive for Covid

Nightclubs will close for the next week and all Perth and Peel residents must wear masks indoors and outdoors, regardless of proximity to others.

‘We cannot underestimate this virus. We cannot be complacent. We need to follow the health advice. We need people to get tested. And we need everyone to keep wearing your masks,’ Mr McGowan said.

‘I want to avoid going into lockdown again. I know how much it can impact people’s lives and businesses. But if we need to go back into lockdown, we will.’

But he added another lockdown this week was still ‘a prospect’. 

Sunday’s AFL western derby between West Coast and Fremantle at Optus Stadium will be played behind closed doors, with the risk of 45,000 spectators travelling to the stadium deemed too high.

‘Having 45,000 people try to get to Optus Stadium at the same time is too much of a risk, especially as we are still going through the close contacts,’ Mr McGowan said.  

Fans will be locked out of Sunday's AFL game at Perth's Optus Stadium under the latest Covid restrictions. Pictured is a match between the Fremantle Dockers and North Melbourne Kangaroos that was played at the stadium on April 24 without crowds during lockdown

Fans will be locked out of Sunday’s AFL game at Perth’s Optus Stadium under the latest Covid restrictions. Pictured is a match between the Fremantle Dockers and North Melbourne Kangaroos that was played at the stadium on April 24 without crowds during lockdown 

The security guard in his 20s worked at the Pan Pacific Hotel between April 24 and 26 and tested positive on Saturday.

On his days off work from April 27 to 30, he moved through the community going shopping, seeing friends and visiting Mirrabooka Mosque.

He and his seven housemates were moved to hotel quarantine after he returned the positive result.

The guard had received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine just days earlier.

Mr McGowan said the interim restrictions that had been in place in Perth and Peel following a snap three-day lockdown last weekend – including attendance limits at hospitality venues – had reduced the risk of a wider outbreak. 

The security guard’s two infected housemates – a roommate and a guest from Canberra – had both been working as food delivery drivers.

They each worked on April 29 and 30 and could have been infectious since the 27th.

But public health advice suggested the risk was low given they were required to wear face masks and had minimal contact with customers.

The hotel quarantine security guard that tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday worked at the Pan Pacific Hotel (pictured) between April 24 and 26

The hotel quarantine security guard that tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday worked at the Pan Pacific Hotel (pictured) between April 24 and 26

Authorities are working through which restaurants they attended to collect food and if any are determined to be potential exposure sites, they will be listed on the healthywa.wa.gov.au website.

One of the positive cases attending a cooking school on the 27th and 28th with about 20 other people at the Perth College of Business and Technology.

The other students are being contacted and advised to isolate until they have returned negative tests, along with other casual contacts.

More than 3000 tests were completed on Saturday.

‘We are not out of the woods as yet. Our contact tracing team has a massive job underway today,’ Mr McGowan said. 

The security guard, wearing a mask, worked on the same floor as two travellers – one from the US and one from Indonesia – who were transferred to the Pan Pacific Hotel on April 24 and tested positive.

Authorities have reviewed CCTV footage and are yet to identify any concerns.

Latest exposure sites across Perth

The Western Australia government has listed a number of exposure sites visited by confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Health authorities are urging any resident who has visited these sites to get tested for Covid-19 and self-isolate immediately.  

Nollamara: Pharmacy 777 – 84 Hillsborough Drive 30/04/2021 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Mirrabooka: Mirrabooka Mosque: Masjid Al Taqwa 30/04/2021 1:15pm – 2:00pm

Madeley: Puma – 186 Wanneroo Rd 30/04/2021 11.45am – 12.15pm

Banksia Grove: Liberty Fuel, corner of Porrecta link and Pinjar Rd 30/04/2021 10.00am – 10.30am

Wanneroo: Brookside Medical Centre 30/04/2021 8.00am – 9.00am

Nollamara: Pharmacy 777 – 84 Hillsborough Drive 29/04/2021 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Balcatta: Coles – Prime West Northlands Shopping Centre 29/04/2021 4:30pm – 5:15pm

Scarborough: Caltex – 74 Scarborough Beach Rd 29/04/2021 1.15pm – 1.45pm

Victoria Park: All Night Pizza Cafe 28/04/2021 10.00pm – 12.00am

Joondanna: Agha Juice Cafe 28/04/2021 6:50pm – 8:00pm

Morley: Event Cinemas – Galleria Shopping Centre 28/04/2021 6.45pm – 7.15pm

Balcatta: Coles – Prime West Northlands Shopping Centre 28/04/2021 2.00pm – 3.00pm

Balcatta: Smokemart – Prime West Northlands Shopping Centre 28/04/2021 1:30pm – 3:15pm

Balcatta: Northlands Fresh – Prime West Northlands Shopping Centre 28/04/2021 1:30pm – 3.15pm

Westminster: Spudshed – Stirling Shopping Centre 28/04/2021 1:30am – 2:30am

Westminster: Spudshed – Stirling Shopping Centre 27/04/2021 5.15pm – 6.00pm

Victoria Park: Swan Taxi Victoria Park 27/04/2021 1:50pm – 2:45pm

Source: Western Australia government 

 

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