The Department of Health has today confirmed a third positive test for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Western Australia.
WA’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Andrew Robertson said a woman in her 30s from Perth’s southern suburbs, who recently travelled from Iceland and the UK via Dubai, had returned a positive test for COVID-19.
She arrived back in Perth on Monday night on Emirates flight EK420.
The following day, when she became symptomatic, she isolated herself and her local GP arranged for testing at her home.
The laboratory test returned positive today (Thursday). The woman has self-isolated at home and is in a stable condition.
Dr Robertson said the Department was working with the airline to contact trace passengers on the Emirates flight according to public health protocols. Close contacts are considered to be those who were seated in the same row as, or in the two rows in front or two rows behind a confirmed COVID-19 case.
“There appear to have been minimal contacts back here in Perth as she took all the appropriate precautionary and self-quarantining measures,” he said.
Dr Robertson reminded Western Australians that there was still no local transmission of COVID-19 - all three cases have been people who contracted the illness overseas.
He said the Health Department continued to work around the clock to minimise the risk of community spread and reassured people the risk of contracting COVID-19 in Western Australia was currently low.
“Unless you have travelled overseas and have flu-like symptoms such as cough and/or fever you do not need to seek medical attention,” he said.
“We are urging people to leave doctor and hospital appointments for those who really need them.”
In WA, there have been 973 negative test results on people tested locally for COVID-19.
See WA Health’s www.healthywa.wa.gov.au website for the latest information on COVID-19.
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