The state government has confirmed a new positive COVID-19 case in the Perth community resulting in hundreds of potential contacts.
The case is a 25-year old backpacker who travelled from Queensland into WA earlier this month.
He is understood to have visited 14 sites including shopping centres, nightclubs and bars while potentially infectious prior to testing positive for COVID-19 this morning.
He got tested on Wednesday December 22 after feeling sick on Sunday December 19.
WA Health has listed exposure sites in Perth, Subiaco, Mirrabooka, Joondalup, Girrawheen and Northbridge between Thursday December 16 and Wednesday December 22.
As a result, the state government has reintroduced mandatory mask requirements from 6:00pm tonight until 6:00am Tuesday December 28 but WA will not go into lockdown.
Mask-wearing rules will apply to public indoor settings including workplaces, public transport and shopping centres but not homes.
Masks should also be worn outside where physical distancing is not possible.
Music festivals, major outdoor events will be cancelled and nightclubs closed until Tuesday.
Those who have been to any of the exposure sites or are feeling unwell have been told to get tested and clinics are in the process of being ramped up to operate over the Christmas period.
Case 1133 is understood to have arrived in Perth when Queensland was classed as a low risk state.
He is understood to be unvaccinated against COVID-19 and has been put in hotel quarantine since testing positive.
Reports of a positive case emerged earlier today after Geisha Bar posted on social media confirming the site had been visited by a positive COVID-19 case between the hours of 12:00am and 3:00am on Sunday 19.
Those at the site received a text advising they had been at the bar while a COVID-19 case was present and would need to get tested and isolate.
Premier Mark McGowan said WA needed to face the potential of community transmission over the period.
“I know this is not the news we wanted to hear two days before Christmas but this is the reality of COVID-19,” he said speaking at a press conference this afternoon.
He urged Western Australians to “do the right thing” over the Christmas period.
It follows the reintroduction of WA’s hard border with the rest of the country announced yesterday.
Under new directions those captured under existing mandatory vaccination policies for workers would need to get their booster shot one month after they become eligible.
WA has not recorded a community transmitted case of COVID-19 since June.
