Western Australia has recorded a fourth consecutive day of no new community COVID-19 cases, meaning the state is on track to end its five-day lockdown on Friday.
WA Premier Mark McGown confirmed the figures that were earlier announced by Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.
‘This is a remarkable achievement,” Mr McGowan told reporters on Thursday.
“We can cautiously start to look ahead to the future, knowing that if we continue down this path, the end to lockdown is in sight.
“At this stage of the lockdown, this is the news were were hoping for.
The premier added a meeting of health experts would be held on Thursday night to determine what post-lockdown restrictions would remain in place.
“But I need to stress it will be a little longer before things go back to the way we’ve become used to,” he said.
More than 30,000 tests were conducted during the first three days of WA’s five-day lockdown.
The surge in testing, prompted by a hotel security guard who unwittingly roamed the streets of Perth while infectious, paves the way for metropolitan Perth, the Peel region and South West to emerge from lockdown at 6pm on Friday.
Authorities are continuing to investigate how the guard at the Sheraton Four Points contracted the highly contagious UK variant of the virus from an infected guest.
Anyone working in a “high-risk situation” in quarantine hotels is now required to wear a face mask at all times.
Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller is astonished such a policy was not already in place.
He says WA’s health department must heed calls for improved hotel ventilation and for workers to be provided with airborne-level protective equipment such as N95 respirators.
“There does need to be change, and we have been saying for months that this is a real problem,” Dr Miller said.
“If they don’t start listening to us, they’re going to have to change some people, absolutely.”
Health Minister Roger Cook said the guard had been stationed on a chair near a stairwell about three metres from the room of the guest, who had been “quite unwell” and remained in quarantine for three weeks.
The guest received seven visits on 24 January from guards and other staff wearing protective equipment, who dropped off food, medication and flowers.
But contrary to previous government advice, none of the visits were from the guard who tested positive, a university student in his 20s dubbed “case 903”.
Authorities are now examining whether the sick guest somehow transmitted the virus without face-to-face contact, either by airborne transmission or surface contamination.
“It’s a working hypothesis. We haven’t really nailed it yet,” WA Health infectious disease expert Paul Armstrong said.
Dr Miller said authorities should have mitigated for potential airborne spread.
He also blasted Dr Armstrong for suggesting guards might be reluctant to wear “uncomfortable” masks for long periods.
“We’ve told the community they need to wear masks. That is a valid public health direction,” Dr Miller said.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania.
