West Australian tested for coronavirus

Western Australia might have its first case of the deadly coronavirus, only a day after it was given the all-clear.

One day after the state had been given the all-clear for the deadly coronavirus, a West Australian adult is being tested for the disease.

Health Minister Roger Cook confirmed the news yesterday and said the case was “very current” and that the adult patient had presented to a WA hospital.

“At this state, it’s a patient that has presented with a range of respiratory symptoms,” he said.

“As a result of that we are undertaking the tests. I can’t provide any further details.”

Mr Cook couldn’t reveal where the patient had presented or if the family of the suspected case were in isolation.

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The news comes as the state government follows the lead of New South Wales in asking parents to keep their children back from school if they have recently travelled to China.

Cautionary policies across the state have been updated, and anyone who has travelled from the Hubei province has been asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

“No outings, no visitors, no work,” Mr Cook said, adding that for many of these people “the clock is ticking”.

“We want you to stay in your home and have as minimum contact as humanly possible.”

A coronavirus hotline was set up for WA on Tuesday afternoon, however demand is still unclear.

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A paramedic dressed in protective gear walks past an ambulance containing a patient suspected of contracting the coronavirus at Westmead Hospital in Sydney. Picture: Steve Tyson

West Australians who believe they have coronavirus, been in contact with someone who may be affected or have general questions can call 1800 300 243.

The total cases confirmed in Australia was brought to seven yesterday when Queensland’s first case presented in a 44-year-old Chinese national, currently isolated in the Gold Coast University Hospital. The man, who is from the city of Wuhan where the virus broke out, is stable.

More than 6000 cases have been confirmed around the world – about 99 per cent of which are in China – and 132 people have died so far in the 23 days since its outbreak in Wuhan.

– with AAP