Perth and surrounding areas are in the midst of a snap lockdown dropped this week after a hotel quarantine security guard returned a positive COVID-19 result on the weekend.
It has emerged that the guard from Perth’s Four Points Hotel delivered medicine to a returned traveller who had already tested positive for coronavirus.
He is now confirmed to have contracted the UK variant of the disease, thought to be significantly more contagious than the original strain.
The man worked at the hotel in the CBD on 26 and 27 January. Deputy Premier Roger Cook has clarified that the guard told his employer he was sick on 30 January, and was subsequently tested.
The potential for community spread promptly triggered the State Government to call a five-day shutdown of the most populous regions – Perth, Peel, and the south-west – seeing people required to stay at home.
After ten months without a positive case, the slip has brought to light what was has been described as “staggering inconsistency” on the part of WA’s containment system, highlighted by admission from West Australian health officials that security guards working in the quarantine hotels have not been required to wear masks – despite being around infectious occupants.
Infectious disease expert Paul Armstrong explained it had not been a requirement of the protocol, in line with public health advice, although the policy has now been updated. It was deemed appropriate for “static guards” monitoring hallways to be equipped with a mask and eyewear, but they need only put them on if they cannot stay 1.5 metres socially distanced.
The threat has put Western Australia’s contact tracing resources to the test for the first time, while mass testing is underway for people living in the area. Around 200 close contacts of the guards have been identified, with at least 138 returning negative results (so far).
WA Premier Mark McGowan said yesterday that two million residents would remain under stay-at-home orders until at least Friday, which would hopefully allow time for any positive persons to be diagnosed.
The State has recorded no new cases for three days, since the lockdown began, and no locally acquired cases were reported across Australia.