A man with COVID-19 has died in hospital as Western Australia recorded 51 new local cases of the virus in the community, its highest daily number to date.
Key points:
- The Premier says the man in his 70s who died was unvaccinated
- WA has recorded 99 new cases in total, including 48 returned travellers
- There are concerns about aged care employees working at multiple sites
Premier Mark McGowan opened today's media conference saying he had a significant and tragic development to announce.
"Sadly, a man in his 70s with COVID-19 has passed away in Joondalup Hospital," he said.
"I'm advised that WA Health has no record of the man receiving a COVID-19 vaccination."
Mr McGowan said the man had underlying health conditions and acquired the virus in the community — believed to be at an event in Perth's northern suburbs.
It is the second death WA has recorded linked to community transmission of the virus throughout the entire pandemic.
A total of 99 new cases have been reported in WA, with another 48 returned overseas and interstate travellers also testing positive.
There are currently 482 active cases in WA.
"Omicron is well and truly here in Western Australia," Mr McGowan said.
Seven new local cases investigated
Of the 51 new local cases, 44 have been linked to close contacts and seven are under investigation.
There were 5,311 people tested at PCR clinics in WA yesterday.
Mr McGowan said the new cases included 23 self-reported positive rapid antigen tests (RAT), most of which were interstate arrivals.
The Premier said higher case numbers were expected in the weeks to come.
"Enhanced public health social measures are being considered," he said.
But he said he suspected current measures, including face masks, were helping to limit the current outbreak.
Concerns over aged care workers
WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said she was not aware of any more aged care centres in WA recording cases of COVID-19.
"But I would not be surprised if we see more," she said.
It comes after an outbreak at Juniper's Cygnet aged care facility in Bentley yesterday grew to six residents and two staff.
Asked whether aged care workers in WA were permitted to work across multiple facilities, Ms Sanderson said she would need to confirm if that was the case.
"That is regulated by the Commonwealth," she said.
"It would not be ideal at all for aged care workers to be moving from site to site in this environment, and I would expect them to have those plans in place."
The ABC has heard from family members of residents in Juniper facilities who said they were worried because staff there were working across multiple sites.
Juniper has been contacted for comment about this claim.
In a letter to residents' families, Juniper CEO Chris Hall said the Commonwealth had provided the Cygnet facility with "an extra team of five registered nurses and two care workers".
He also said arrangements were being made to facilitate video conferences for residents and their loved ones.
Family buoyed by Friday's case figures
Rob Namestnik, whose mother is a resident at the facility, said he was buoyed by the fact there had been no new cases today, but was worried when he heard about the outbreak.
"When we first heard we thought geez that's unlucky, how could this happen to my mum, of all the places in Perth," he said.
"But then we came to grips with it, it's just one of those things, you can't help it."
Mr Namestnik said the provider had kept him well informed and he took confidence in his mother being triple vaccinated.
In WA, 88.5 per cent of aged care residents have had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 84.5 per cent have had two doses.
Mr McGowan claimed on Thursday the rates of third-dose vaccinations were significantly lower among aged care residents than in the wider population.
However, the Commonwealth later revealed that of the aged care residents eligible for a third dose in WA, 80.5 per cent had already received one.
A spokeswoman for Juniper's Cygnet facility said of its 40 residents, 38 were triple-dosed, one was double-dosed, and one had chosen not to be vaccinated.
New contact rules limiting exposure sites
The Health Minister also offered further explanation as to why fewer exposure sites were being listed on the Healthy WA website, after the number fell significantly this week.
"The shift in the definition of close contacts, that significantly limits the number of exposure sites," Ms Sanderson said.
"The public health team do a risk analysis and they are, at the moment, publishing the high-risk exposure sites."
Ms Sanderson said in many scenarios, the Health Department was able to establish everyone who was at an exposure site and contact them directly.
"For a school, for example, every visitor gets signed in and out. Students are known, staff are known, so movements people know.
"If it's the same with businesses, then they are not listed as an exposure site."
Ms Sanderson said anyone at an exposure site who was not a close contact would also be notified directly by WA Health and advised to monitor for symptoms.
"Where a business or a premise can account for every person who came in and out, including staff, then they are all contacted by WA Health and that is not listed," she said.
She said for that reason, it was important people continued to check in using the SafeWA or ServiceWA apps.
Perth Festival tickets 'selling well'
Among the local events facing less certainty as case numbers grow is the Perth Festival which launches this weekend.
Artistic Director, Iain Grandage, said despite the growing outbreak tickets had been selling well.
"Each day is a gift for us," he said.
"We're always looking at that and always operating within health guidelines but any opportunity to be performing is grabbed with both hands."
He did not like to speculate whether the festival would run in its entirety through to March 6.
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Man with COVID-19 dies in Perth hospital as WA records 51 local cases among 99 new infections - ABC News
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