08/04/2020
This is our WA COVID-19 update for Wednesday 8 April 2020.
Today's update includes information on new testing criteria.
It is important people are well informed on the virus, so as new information or advice becomes available we will share it.
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- Current cases -
With around 900 additional tests completed since yesterday's update, there have been 11 additional cases of COVID-19 detected in WA.
That brings WA's total confirmed cases to 481.
One of these new cases is a traveller from the Artania cruise ship.
Of these other ten confirmed cases, nine are from metropolitan Perth and one is from the Kimberley.
Eight of today's cases are related to cruise ships (the Artania, the Ruby Princess, the Costa Luminosa and the Costa Victoria), or overseas travel and one is a close contact of a confirmed case. Two cases are still being investigated.
As with all new confirmed cases, contact tracing is underway and all cases are in isolation.
WA has recorded 170 recoveries from COVID-19.
To date, 19,615 Western Australians have tested negative for COVID-19. Of these 3,972 are from regional WA.
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- Testing –
The testing criteria for COVID-19 has been expanded significantly at all COVID-19 clinics.
Anyone in WA will now be assessed for a COVID-19 test if they present with ANY of the following:
- a fever of 38°C or above OR
- a documented history of a fever in the last few days OR
- an acute respiratory infection (eg. shortness of breath, cough, sore throat)
If you have these symptoms, please get tested, and help us identify every case of COVID-19 in WA as early as possible.
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- COVID clinics -
Nine COVID clinics are now operational - all metropolitan area COVID clinics are operational between the hours of 8am-8pm, 7 days a week.
Please note that all metropolitan clinics will operate on reduced hours over the Easter long weekend, and will be open between 10am-4pm.
The clinics now open are at:
Royal Perth Hospital (Ground Floor, Ainslie House, 48 Murray Street)
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Allied Health 2, Gymnasiums, East End, Bedbrook Row)
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (C Block, Hospital Avenue)
Armadale Health Service (Ground Floor, 3056 Albany Highway, Mount Nasura)
Rockingham General Hospital (Elanora Drive, Cooloongup)
Midland COVID Clinic: Front of St John of God Midland Hospital (access only via Yelverton Drive)
Joondalup COVID Clinic: Ground floor Joondalup Hospital (Car park P4, Regents Park Road - Enter via outside walkway between Specialist Medical West and Physiotherapy Department)
Bunbury Health Campus (Corner Bussell Highway and Robertson Drive, Bunbury) - open 10am-4pm
Broome Hospital (Robinson Street, Broome) - open 8:30am-4pm
In other regional areas, people should go to a public hospital, health service or remote health clinic. Please call ahead if you are concerned that you have contracted COVID-19.
Patients will be assessed and where appropriate tested, provided with appropriate information and referred for further medical treatment if necessary.
Those individuals who are tested and well enough, will be asked to self-isolate while they await test results.
Anyone who is confirmed to have COVID-19, who does not require hospitalisation will be required to stay in self-isolation as instructed by the public health team.
It is also extremely important that people who are unwell and are concerned they have COVID-19 should immediately self-isolate and then seek further medical advice.
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- Closure of the WA border -
Western Australia's borders are now closed to travel from interstate.
An exempt traveller, who will be allowed into our State, must perform one of the following functions:
- Health services
- Emergency services
- Transport, freight and logistics
- Specialists skills, not available in WA, for industry or business continuity;
- National or State security and governance; and
- Courts and judicial services;
There are also exemptions for FIFO workers and their families, however strict 14-day quarantine measures will need to be followed, when they first enter the State.
Further exemptions will also apply on compassionate grounds.
In addition, Western Australians who are already in quarantine for 14 days in the eastern states, will be allowed back to WA if they show no symptoms of COVID-19.
They will need to return to WA within 24 hours of completing their period of quarantine, and then immediately self-quarantine for a further 14 days at their home.
More information and a list of exemptions can be found at www.wa.gov.au/covid19
Additional, stricter directions apply to those coming to WA via the Kimberley, to protect people living in remote Aboriginal communities.
Western Australians who are aware of someone breaching a requirement to self-isolate - please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or WA Police on 131 444.
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- Restrictions on travel within Western Australia –
Restrictions over travel between regions within Western Australia are now in effect.
All non-essential travel within Western Australia must now stop.
Unless you fit an exempt category, you will now not be able to leave whatever region of Western Australia you live in.
To be clear, those regions are: the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Mid-West, Goldfields-Esperance, Wheatbelt, Great Southern and South West. Due to their proximity and interconnected nature, Perth and Peel will be treated as one region.
The exempt categories include: travel for work purposes; to attend medical appointments; to transport freight; those who do not have access to groceries or supplies within their region; returning to a place of residence; where necessary to attend school or an educational institution; caring for family members; and approved compassionate grounds.
Western Australians that are currently outside of their region and are able to return, should do so immediately.
The construction and freight industries, in particular, will continue to operate despite these new measures.
Check points and mobile police patrols will be in place to monitor travel across boundaries and ensure people are doing the right thing.
If your need to travel fits one of the exempt categories, please assist police by preparing documentation, such as a letter/email/SMS from an employer, to support your legitimate travel.
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- Additional restrictions on travel for the Kimberley -
New measures have been announced to stop the spread of COVID-19 to the Kimberley region.
Travel restrictions are already in place in the Kimberley region, but due to the seriousness of the situation, additional stronger measures are needed to stop the movement of people between towns or local government areas.
New boundaries, in line with the four local government areas (Shire of Broome, Derby West Kimberley, Wyndham East Kimberley, Halls creek) within the Kimberley region are now in place.
People must stay in their local government area. The existing exemptions apply, such as provision of essential services or supplies, medical reasons or residents returning to their home.
Residents who need to cross a regional boundary to return to their home, must self-isolate for 14 days.
Kimberley residents are urged to stay home and cease all non-essential travel and activity. Indoor or outdoor activities of more than two people should be avoided, unless exempted.
Anyone displaying symptoms should contact their local health facility immediately.
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- Additional restrictions on travel for the Goldfields-Esperance-
A new restriction on intrastate travel applies for Esperance.
Unless for essential purposes, no visits to Esperance will be permitted.
This is designed to stop the holiday flood, particularly from Kalgoorlie, over the Easter period and beyond, and has been implemented in conjunction with the local council.
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We are preparing and taking every precaution to protect Western Australia from COVID-19.
The Western Australian health system and our hospitals are very well prepared to manage infectious disease situations and have well established systems and processes in place.
The State Government is taking this very seriously – and we need to be prepared for a pandemic. Every action we take and decision we make is to protect Western Australians.
We have already taken action with a suite of measures to prepare the State for the possibility of a pandemic.
It is important that we all continue to remain calm and use common sense.
The best thing we can do to protect ourselves is quality personal hygiene and exercise social distancing by avoiding unnecessary personal contact.
That includes covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often with soap or sanitiser, staying home from work or school if unwell, avoiding shaking hands or hugging, and maintaining distance from others in public.
Please also continue to follow the advice of authorities and doctors - anyone who is instructed to self-isolate must take the order seriously, stay home and not put others at risk.
This means you don’t leave your property, you don’t go to work or school, you don’t go on outings and you don’t have visitors - only leave the house to seek medical attention.
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Official information regarding COVID-19 in Western Australia - www.wa.gov.au/covid19
WA Department of Health information – www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/coronavirus
Coronavirus information hotline – 1800 020 080
Smartraveller – information regarding travel advice for Australians - www.smartraveller.gov.au
