Premier Mark McGowan forced into isolation after Covid-19 scare

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has been forced into isolation after visiting a Covid-19 exposure site in his local area.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has been briefly forced into self-isolation after visiting a Covid-19 exposure site.

A state government spokesperson said Mr McGowan later received a negative test result, which meant he was free to leave isolation.

“The Premier became aware last night that he had been at an exposure site in Rockingham and was required to get tested,” the spokesperson said on Monday.

“He attended the Rockingham Covid clinic last night. He has returned a negative test result and is therefore out of isolation.”

Premier Mark McGowan has been urging people to get vaccinated. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

It comes as WA recorded 26 new local cases and 10 travel-related infections overnight.

Of the new local cases, 24 are linked to close contacts, while the other two remain a mystery.

They are all in quarantine now, but some were infectious in the community and contact tracers are working to determine potential public exposure sites.

It brings the state’s total number of active cases to 265, including 12 in hotel quarantine, 254 in self-quarantine and one in hospital but not in intensive care.

Meanwhile, the Premier is expected to soon reveal plans to transition from 14 to seven days of isolation for close contacts.

This is our WA COVID-19 update for Monday, 7 February 2022.

For official information on COVID-19 in WA, visit https://t.co/zTYXZCJrTJhttps://t.co/guDoEHNSWxpic.twitter.com/0sRSzUdHQG

— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) February 7, 2022

In a statement on Monday, the Premier said WA’s public hospital emergency departments would now boost their Covid-safe measures by screening patients with rapid antigen tests before they enter.

Mr McGowan said RATs meant greater protection for everyone because staff could more easily identify patients who need Covid-19 precautions before entering the emergency department.

Fiona Stanley, Royal Perth, Rockingham, Sir Charles Gardiner and Perth Children’s hospitals have introduced RATs, with other metropolitan hospitals to follow next week.

It is also being rolled out in the state’s South West region.

Mr McGowan said when there was widespread community transmission in WA, RATs would be further expanded.

“Using rapid antigen tests, in addition to other public health measures, in emergency departments will mean patients who need Covid-19 precautions will be identified quickly and will keep staff and other patients better protected from the virus,” he said.

“WA has been progressively securing large volumes of rapid antigen tests since Omicron spread in Australia, to help bolster our state’s response to Covid-19.

“The procurement of these tests is another weapon in our arsenal to keep WA safe.”