A security guard from the Pan Pacific Hotel and two of his housemates have tested positive for COVID-19, just 15 hours after the interim lockdown restrictions were lifted.
A security guard from the Pan Pacific Hotel and two of his housemates have tested positive for COVID-19, just 15 hours after the interim lockdown restrictions were lifted for those in Perth and Peel.
The Nollamara man, aged in his 20s, tested positive for the virus this morning, following his weekly PCR test yesterday. It is understood he had already received his first dose of the COVID vaccine.
His seven housemates have also undergone rapid testing today, two of whom have since returned positive test results. All eight have been placed in hotel quarantine.
WA health authorities suspect the man may have contracted the virus after a suite of new arrivals entered the hotel on April 24, working on the same floor as two of returned travellers who had tested positive for COVID-19.
The guard tested negative for the virus on April 24, 25 and 26, and is believed to have become infectious on April 27.
Between then and returning a positive test this morning, the man visited several locations in Perth’s north, including Spudshed in Stirling, a shopping centre in Balcatta, a juice bar in Joondanna, Coles Northlands in Balcatta and a mosque in Mirrabooka.
During a press conference this afternoon, Premier Mark McGowan said the emergency management team had met three times today to discuss the evolving situation and said that because masks had been mandatory and movement restricted during the past week, the risk to the community had been somewhat controlled.
However, the relaxed mask wearing rules implemented from midnight last night will revert back, with masks now mandatory indoors and outdoors.
A decision on the need for further restrictions is expected to be made tomorrow morning.
The leak from hotel quarantine is the third in the last four months, the first of which prompted lockdowns in February and April.
Public exposure sites:
- Mirrabooka: Masjid Al Taqwa mosque, 30/04/2021 - 1.15pm - 2pm
- Balcatta: Northlands Shopping Centre Coles, 29/04/2021 - 4.30pm – 5.15pm
- Joondanna: Agha Juice Cafe, 28/04/2021 - 6.50pm – 8pm
- Balcatta: Northlands Shopping Centre Smokemart, 28/04/2021 - 1.30pm – 3.15m
- Balcatta: Northlands Fresh, 28/04/2021 - 1.30pm – 3.15pm
- Stirling: Spudshed, 28/04/2021 - 1.30pm – 2.30pm
- Victoria Park: Swan Taxi 27/04/2021 - 1.50pm – 2.45pm
