Premier Mark McGowan scoffed at suggestions the testing and isolation directive to WA travellers who visited Brisbane COVID-19 exposure sites resembled the hotspot suppression method he maligned throughout the pandemic.
The nation is on high alert after a Princess Alexandra Hospital doctor tested positive for the disease on Friday after having visited three public sites including a cafe, gym and pub.
WA Premier Mark McGowan out in his electorate on the Rockingham foreshore after his historic win for Labor.Credit:Peter de Kruijff
Queensland health authorities have urged anyone who visited the sites at the same time as the infected doctor to monitor their symptoms.
At his first press conference following his party’s thumping election win on Saturday, Mr McGowan said the Queensland case was not concerning enough to warrant a border closure but a directive would be sent to travellers who visited the sites.
“We will send a text message to all those people who have arrived from Queensland in the last three days to ensure that they’re advised if they’ve been to any of these places where this person was tested and isolated,” he said.
“We’ll also question anyone arriving from the airport from Brisbane, as to whether or not they’ve been to any of these three places in the timeframe in question, so that will be a process that was being implemented immediately to ensure we protect Western Australia.”
The hotspot suppression method is a tactic employed by states such as NSW that blocks the movement of people from postcodes or regions where the virus is spreading rather than whole states.
Throughout the pandemic Mr McGowan criticised the method, saying it was not effective enough to eliminate virus outbreaks.
The hard border policy played a huge part in Mr McGowan’s popularity in the lead up to the election but he maintained it was never about securing votes. Whatever is left of the Liberal and National opposition will be watching Labor’s rhetoric closely to see if he softens his stance over coming months.
