COVID Shutdown
The Perth metropolitan area, Peel and South West will go into a five-day lockdown after recording its first case of COVID-19 community transmission in almost 10 months.
Premier Mark McGowan announced the drastic measure, which comes into effect at 6pm Sunday, at an emergency press conference this Sunday, revealing a security guard in his 20s at one of Perth’s quarantine hotels had been diagnosed with the deadly virus.
The security lives with three other people, all of whom have been placed in hotel quarantine. Each has returned a negative test, but that is expected to change in coming days. The man was working at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel and became unwell on January 28, calling in sick to work and returning a positive test close to midnight last night.
Four confirmed COVID-19 patients were in quarantine at the Sheraton at the time, including two with the fast-spreading UK variant and one with the South African strain. The man was working on the same floor as a patient with the UK strain. Genomic sequencing will confirm what variant he has on Tuesday morning. Premier Mark McGowan announced masks will now be mandatory for anybody leaving their homes and anyone that is able to work from home is encouraged to do so for the next five days.
West Australians are still permitted to leave their home to purchase food and essentials, and Mr McGowan cautioned against panic buying saying there was “no need to rush to the supermarket”. During the five-day lockdown the following venues and businesses in the Perth metropolitan area – which includes Peel and the South West – will be forced to shut.
The SESVA recommends SES Units contact their District Officers regarding their operational responsibilities.
