Western Australia could require four Covid tests for those in hotel quarantine

WA will implement stricter hotel quarantine rules after a maritime worker tested positive just hours after being released.

Western Australia will require people who have had Covid-19 while in hotel quarantine to be tested the day before leaving, despite having already returned a negative result.

The new changes comes after a martime worker tested “moderately positive” to Covid-19 in Perth just hours after he was released from hotel quarantine and sent into the community, where he dined and shopped.

He had returned a negative test days before being released.

A new test on day 13 of quarantine has now been introduced.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said he was surprised to learn previously positive Covid-19 cases weren’t necessarily required to undertake a test upon leaving hotel quarantine.

“I learnt about that yesterday,” he said.

A pre-clearance test will now be performed on all cases.

Other guests in hotel quarantine must be tested on day one, five and 13.

WA may even go a step further and require all returned overseas travellers to undergo a fourth test on day 17 as a further precaution.

“That’s an analysis we’re currently undertaking,” Mr McGowan said.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said he was surprised to learn hotel quarantine guests don’t require a test on Day 13.

Health officials are conducting more tests to determine the threat to residents but so far they suspect they are dealing with a “shedder case”.

The man, a maritime worker, returned to Perth from Colombia via the United States in May and had tested positive for the virus 16 days ago. He tested negative on day 10 of hotel quarantine and was released from the Pan Pacific Hotel on Friday afternoon. He returned a “moderately strong” test on Saturday which has seen him return to hotel quarantine.

“He has returned to hotel quarantine based on an abundance of caution,” WA Health said.

“Contact tracing is underway, again as a precaution.”

RELATED: Crew member from ship docked in Perth tests positive

RELATED: Mystery remains over shipment of doses in Australia

chief health officer of Western Australia, Andrew Robertson. Picture: Tony McDonough

WA health authorities say they don’t believe he was infectious while in the community, despite visiting a pharmacy, telephone store and a hotel in Perth’s CBD.

Western Australia’s chief health officer Andrew Robertson said authorities are taking a “cautious approach” but they believe the man is a “non-infectious chronic shedder”.

“What he’s shedding is viral particles, he’s not shedding the virus, so we don’t believe he is a major concern to the community,” Mr Robertson said on Sunday.

“This is not uncommon and represents persistent fragments of the virus that cannot infect others.

“His result suggested a higher level of virus than has previously been found in these situations.”

In a statement WA Health said that further testing was consistent with a long-term non-infectious shedder, but “further viral cultures and genome sequencing are required to confirm this”.

Mr Robertson said “for some reason” a small percentage of people shed after they’ve recovered from the virus, which occurs when particles are shed into the back of the throat and released into the environment.

“Some people shed more often and more commonly, sometimes if they’ve had another infection like a cold, it exacerbates it. Generally it just occurs in some people and not others.

“We were concerned, this is an unusual finding,” he added.

But, he reassured, “the risk is very low and we don’t believe this individual is infectious.”

“The Department of Health believes he has not been infectious while in the community and the risk of transmission is very low.

“The Department, however, is taking a very cautionary approach and will contact people who have been at venues that he visited.”

The man “does not have a variant of concern” and was previously vaccinated against COVID-19.

The moment an infected worker released from quarantine was forced back IN, after dining out. @Ben_Downie#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/Sb4vtvlDjV

— 7NEWS Perth (@7NewsPerth) June 6, 2021

Potential exposure sites are:

Optus Murray St, 237 Murray St, Perth, Friday 4 June, 4.30pm to 5.15pm

Chemist Discount Centre, Perth, Wesley Quarter, 93 William St, Perth Friday 4 June, 5.00pm to 5.30pm

Rubix Bar and Café, Ibis Hotel Restaurant, 334 Murray St, Perth Friday 4 June, 6.00pm to 8.00pm.

Anybody who has visited these sites at the times specified – or who is contacted by the Department of Health – is asked to get tested and monitor for symptoms for the next 14 days.

Given the very low risk, these people will not have to quarantine.