Mark McGowan forced into isolation as expert warns against easing COVID restrictions too soon
A deeper look into where and how COVID 19 is spreading in WA is required before rules are eased any further. according to an infectious diseases expert. The comments came as WA Premier Mark McGowan was forced into isolation after a family member tested positive for COVID 19. In a statement. Mr McGowan said he returned a negative PCR test yesterday but would still quarantine for a week 'as so many West Australians have done during this pandemic'. 'I'll be working from home for the duration of my isolation period as required.' he said. Other states axe isolation rules By the weekend. both New South Wales and Victoria will have become the first jurisdictions in Australia to scrap their close contact isolation rules. Western Australia today recorded 8.080 new cases of COVID 19. with 244 people in hospital with the virus and 10 in intensive care. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital declared a 'code yellow' emergency this morning. as it struggled to cope with the volume of patients. The number of people in hospital with COVID in WA has hovered in the low to mid 200s since late March. A range of restrictions were relaxed in the state last Thursday including dramatic changes to close contact rules. The WA government has flagged restrictions are likely to ease further 'in the coming weeks and months'. but has been tight lipped when it comes to specifics. 'Too many unknowns' in WA: expert University of WA senior lecturer in infectious diseases Barbara Nattabi said there were still too many unknowns for Western Australia to ease its close contact isolation rules. 'WA is in a different situation. because our cases lag behind other states.' she said. 'We could consider easing our isolation rules as well. but I think the most important thing for us to do at this point is to find out where our transmission is happening.' A pullback on contact tracing means the vast majority of COVID cases in NSW and Victoria have an unknown source of infection. In WA. about half the cases can still be traced to known local sources. But further information on where transmission is occurring has not been made publicly available. Dr Nattabi said it was difficult to know how safe it was to ease restrictions without knowing how and where cases were spreading. Read more 'If our transmission is mainly happening in homes. then it would not be advisable for us to change our isolation rules yet.' she said. Close contacts in NSW and Victoria will still need to undergo multiple rapid antigen tests. Dr Nattabi said the requirement for close contacts to continue getting tested. despite not needing to isolate. was the right approach. 'The most important thing is for household contacts to be able to test themselves.' she said. 'If we can use the RAT tests to determine that transmission has not happened. isolation rules can be changed.' Testing to play role in school camps' return School camps will be allowed to recommence in term 2 with testing requirements in place for students. Camps were cancelled or postponed in February as case numbers rose in WA. But Education Minister Sue Ellery said the latest health advice would allow for them to return. 'While it was disappointing that camps could not go ahead under the high caseload settings. it was necessary for the safety of school staff and students.' she said. 'Now with school camps returning. there will be additional COVID 19 safety measures in place to protect staff and students.' Students will be required to return a negative rapid antigen test before attending. and schools will need to prepare isolation arrangements for anyone who shows COVID like symptoms. No date set for further easing of restrictions Deputy Premier Roger Cook said West Australians should expect restrictions to be eased eventually. but the government would avoid any 'hasty' decisions. 'Over the next weeks and months. we'll continue to see winding back of restrictions.' he said. 'We won't simply be putting things in place that...
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