Covid WA: Backpacker cluster grows with many providing incorrect information for tracing

A Covid-19 cluster linked to Perth’s backpacker community has continued to grow with dozens of close contacts yet to be tested.

Western Australia recorded two new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday linked to an outbreak within Perth’s backpacker community.

One of the positive cases was a close contact of the French backpacker at the centre of the most recent outbreak who had attended the Mess Hall exposure event.

The person initially tested negative last week; however, in accordance with health regulations had remained in self-quarantine.

Premier Mark McGowan said the case highlighted how the onset of the virus could occur later, particularly with the Delta variant.

The other case is a young woman who is also a backpacker and contracted the virus through later exposure to others in the community.

Western Australia recorded two new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

“We don’t believe she was at the Mess Hall event, but she has obviously developed an exposure with some of the backpackers,” Mr McGowan said.

Contact tracers have identified 704 close contacts of the backpacker cluster, of which 92 per cent have so far tested negative.

However, 54 of those close contacts are yet to be tested, 44 of which were at the Mess Hall event.

Mr McGowan added that 16 of those people were unlikely to be reached by contact tracers having provided false or misleading information when registering.

An additional 1260 people have been deemed casual contacts, with 204 people still to be tested.

“WA Police and WA Health continue to do everything possible to track the remaining people down,” he said.

“Perhaps some of them have left the state as well, that often happens. These are young people and they move around. Some of them may have gone east already.

“We’re saying to people, ‘please come and get tested, you’re not in trouble, just come and do the right thing’.”

The state conducted 4352 tests on Tuesday.

“If you’re unwell please go and get tested. Testers are available and I’m advised the wait time is very short.”