Premier Mark McGowan announces state lockdown after new WA case
McGowan #McGowan
Two regions in Perth’s northern suburbs will go into lockdown from midnight tonight after WA Premier Mark McGowan revealed another case of coronavirus in the state.
The state’s health department websites crashed overnight as residents rushed to find exposure sites, frustrated they were unable to log on.
The first case was a 51-year-old Perth physiotherapist who tested positive for the Delta Covid-19 strain after visiting a Bondi cafe.
Another person tested positive after going to the same gym as the first case. Now, a man in his 30s has tested positive after a case of “fleeting contact” with the initial case at the Indian Ocean Brewery in the northern suburbs.
“They were both having dinner. How far away they were – if someone walked past the other, when they were going to pay their bill – I don’t have that detail,” Mr McGowan said.
“I do know they weren’t friends, they weren’t sitting at the same table. It was a very fleeting contact. That says to us that this is a very contagious virus and as we’ve seen in New South Wales, once it gets a hold, it’s very, very difficult to contain.”
The man’s partner has so far tested negative.
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The “circuit-breaker” lockdown will be in place for Perth and Peel regions for four days “at a minimum”, Mr McGowan said.
“We will continue to review the situation based on testing numbers and information from our contact tracing teams and provide updates when we can.
“We hope this will be a circuit breaker, which will give our testers and contact tracers time to nail down a picture of how far this latest outbreak has spread.”
Mr McGowan said t had seen what the Delta strain could do in Sydney and that “we don’t know if there; s further cases out there”.
“What we’re doing is a massive effort in testing, a huge effort in contact tracing and engaging in a lockdown to try and kill it as quickly as we can.
“Sydney is going through a two-week, probably more, lockdown. We’re hopeful a four-day lockdown and all of the measures we’re putting in place will be enough to crush and kill the virus in its tracks.
“I’m sorry, it’s very disturbing, but for the next four days you won’t be able to leave to go on holidays. That will no doubt upset many people and break many holiday plans, but that’s unfortunately the world we’re in.”
Residents will only be allowed outside of the home for four reasons
• For work if you are an essential worker or service provider
• For purchasing essential goods including food, groceries, medical or necessary supplies within 5km of home or at the closest practicable location
• For one hour of exercise per day within 5km of home with up to one other adult from your household or any number of children from your household
• For medical or health care purposes, including looking after the vulnerable or to be vaccinated
Masks will be mandatory in Perth and Peel except
• While at home
• During vigorous outdoor exercise
• While in a vehicle with members of your own household
Other rules
• Schools and childcare centres remain open, with masks required except for primary school children or while teaching. High school students are required to wear masks
• Private gathering are not permitted, visitors at home only permitted for essential services, critical maintenance, caregiving or compassionate needs
• Hospitality venues are restricted to takeaway only
• Hairdressers, gyms, casinos, nightclubs, entertainment venues, playgrounds, skate parks, outdoor recreational facilities, religious gatherings/places of worship must all close.
• Visits to aged care/disability care are prohibited except for essential care, compassionate reasons
• Visits to hospitals are prohibited, except for compassionate reasons. Priority 2 and 3 surgeries will be postponed
• Community sport is cancelled
• Public events are not permitted
• Up to five people at weddings for compassionate reasons only. 10 people permitted at funerals
A list of exposure sites can be found here.