WA reports 62 new local COVID-19 cases, another daily record despite ‘low’ test numbers
62 new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Western Australia, the highest daily number to date.
Key points:
- The 62 new local cases top the previous daily high of 51 from Friday
- There were only 4,351 tests at COVID clinics yesterday, WA Health says
- A third elderly care center is awaiting test results after registering cases
Another 13 cases related to interstate travel have also have been reported, bringing the total number of new infections in the state to 75.
One of the new local cases is not yet linked to any previous cases and is under investigation.
The previously high number of new local cases in a single day came last Friday where 51 infections were reported.
The southwestern region has registered a new case, a person who was contagious in the community.
WA Education Department confirmed that there had been a case of COVID-19 at a primary school in the region.
Parents at Allanson Primary School near Collie, 200 kilometers south of Perth, were told at the weekend that there had been a case at the school.
There are now 509 active cases in WA, but none are in the hospital.
WA Health said there were “low” test numbers yesterday, with only 4,351 people being swept with PCR tests.
Of the new cases recorded today, 10 were self-reported rapid antigen tests (RATs).
There are now three geriatric care centers with identified cases in WA, including The Cove, run by provider Brightwater in Mandurah, south of Perth.
More cases are expected in nursing homes
Brightwater said it was awaiting PCR test results from all residents at The Cove facility to determine if COVID-19 had spread within its site.
Brightwater CEO Jennifer Lawrence said there were other residents with symptoms.
“I expect further cases. I hope not, but I expect further cases. This is a highly contagious virus,” she told ABC Radio Perth.
She said the site was locked and that all staff underwent RAT before coming to work.
“We have not had any positive staff to date. We have been preparing for this for a long time and we have learned a lot from what has happened on the East Coast, so we are as prepared as we will ever be for a outbursts, “she said.
Lawrence said they still did not know how the coronavirus got into the facility, and both infected residents are recovering.
“You are not very ill at all, you have a cough and a light temperature,” she said.
“Both are fully vaccinated, including a booster. At Cove, there are 131 residents, all vaccinated bar 11, and the 11 are just waiting for their booster because they do not have an appointment yet.” she said.
She said residents would be kept in their rooms as a precaution until test results came back today.
The cove eruption comes after Juniper Residential Aged Care Facility in Bentley discovered cases in a resident and an employee on Wednesday.
Yesterday, a case was also confirmed at a third care center, Coolibah Care, which is also in Mandurah.
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