Asymptomatic FIFO workers to be tested for COVID-19 as Western Australia records its seventh day in a row with 0 cases.
Al Williams says the DETECT program is an important step in protecting the health and safety of the community and Chevron's workforce. Photo: Gabriel Oliveira
- The state government has partnered with resource companies to roll-out COVID-19 testing to mining and resources fly-in-fly-out workers who don’t have symptoms. The initiative is part of the DETECT program, which is already testing students from select public schools. The FIFO arm of the program will be led by Curtin University and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. Industry have given $500,000 to fund the program. Resources companies participating include AngloGold Ashanti Australia, BHP, Citic Pacific Mining, Chevron, Minara Resources, Mineral Resources, Perenti Group, Regis Resources, Roy Hill, Rio Tinto and Woodside.
- Commenting on the DETECT program, Chevron Australia managing director Al Williams said the program was an important step in putting extra measures in place to protect the health and safety of the community and of Chevron’s workforce. “With the shared goal of keeping our community safe, we are going to make the data available to the government and the health authorities. This way we can help the government and the community understand, manage and mitigate the further spread of the virus.”
- WA has recorded its seventh day in a row with 0 new cases. There are 14 active cases in WA, including seven in Perth hospitals, while 528 people have recovered.
- WA premier Mark McGowan urged the AFL to reconsider basing a football hub in Perth.“At this point in time, there doesn’t appear to be a way forward that allows players just to fly to Victoria or Sydney and back again, and that doesn’t appear to be an option. The hub arrangement, in which teams were going to move to Western Australia and play football was a great arrangement. I urge the AFL to continue to pursue that arrangement because it would’ve meant the integrity of our borders, the opportunity for quarantine for two weeks before the teams played and exciting new development in football that would be talked about for decades to come was right there and I think they should continue to pursue that option.”
- The federal government has reported 67,680 WA businesses have enrolled for JobKeeper.
- Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly said the COVIDSafe app has been downloaded 5.1 million times.
- Lifeline WA has launched a new online resource offering support for people struggling with the mental health impacts of the pandemic. The website can be viewed here: www.covidcopingkiosk.org
