The Department of Health has confirmed three more positive tests for COVID-19 (Coronavirus), bringing the total to nine confirmed cases in Western Australia.
All three cases are unrelated and were acquired overseas. Contact tracing is being undertaken as a priority, and information is still coming to hand. Current known flight details are:
- Sunday, 8 March, Emirates EK 0420, Dubai to Perth arrived 1730
- Monday, 9 March, Qantas domestic flight, Sydney to Perth, arrived 1220.
Identified close contacts of each case on flights and since arriving in Perth will be contacted.
The patients are recovering in self-isolation at their respective residences.
Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Robertson reassured the community that there was still no local transmission of the virus in Western Australia.
"All nine cases have contracted the illness overseas or had close contact with someone has travelled overseas," Dr Robertson said.
"We are asking Western Australians to remain vigilant and to remember the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19, or any respiratory illness, is to follow good hygiene processes.
- wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap
- cough into a tissue or the crook of your elbow
- stay at home if you are unwell. If you are not well enough to go to work or school, you should not be attending public places like the shops."
This is also particularly important ahead of flu season.
People who have either returned from travel overseas in the past 14 days OR have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 AND are now have cold and flu-like symptoms should be tested for COVID-19 at a metropolitan COVID-19 clinic, a GP or a health campus. If attending a GP or health campus, you are asked to call ahead to reception.
However, Dr Robertson asked people who did not meet these criteria to stay away.
"Over the coming weeks, we will see increasing pressure on our health system. We ask people to who are not symptomatic to not attend.
"Further, we ask that people who are on self-quarantine restrictions due to travel to a high-risk country to speak to their employer about their leave.
"The health system is seeing many people who are well, but who wish to receive a medical certificate to confirm their quarantine requirements present to Emergency Departments, COVID-19 clinics and GPs.
"Instead, they should be providing their employer with evidence of travel such as their passport or boarding pass and discussing suitable leave arrangements. Employees and employers with questions regarding leave entitlements should direct their questions to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
"We ask that you keep our health services available for those who need them most."
See WA Health's www.healthywa.wa.gov.au website for the latest information on COVID-19 or call the COVID-19 Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.
