Genome sequencing reveals US traveller infected Perth security guard

There have been no new community cases of coronavirus detected in WA overnight, despite Premier Mark McGowan revealing two positive cases delivered food to 100 households while potentially infectious.

The Pan Pacific cluster was discovered on Saturday morning after a routine test on a security guard.

Premier Mark McGowan getting vaccinated on Monday. Credit: Hamish Hastie

It is the second hotel quarantine breach in Perth in as many weeks after a man who isolated at the Mercure sparked a three-day Anzac Day long weekend lockdown.

Two of the Pan Pacific security guard’s housemates, who are food delivery drivers, tested positive for COVID-19 in the hours after his initial infection was detected, leading Mr McGowan to reinstate mask-wearing outdoors and suspend nightclubbing and crowds at AFL matches on Sunday.

More than 6100 tests were carried out in WA on Sunday, with 58 close contacts isolating for 14 days and 217 casual contacts required to isolate until they return a negative test result.

The Pan Pacific in Perth is the source of the latest quarantine outbreak.Credit: Nine News Perth

Mr McGowan said a further 100 households in Perth’s north east who had food delivered by two infected people were considered low risk.

“[They] are required to get tested and they are considered a casual contact,” he said.

“If you were in one of the restaurants from which the food was picked up ... you’re encouraged to get tested.”

Restrictions will remain in place until at least Friday night, with Mr McGowan flagging West Australians may have to get used to wearing masks.

Health Minister Roger Cook said the ‘working theory’ as to how the security guard became infected was that a returning traveller from the US passed the virus on to the man, as well as another traveller from Indonesia.

Genome sequencing has revealed the three people have the US variant of the virus, with the two travellers arriving on the same plane.

“[The two travellers] arrived on the same day and they were cohorting on the same floor of the hotel so you can imagine a couple of opportunities where it might have had the opportunity to transfer,” he said.

He said the hotel’s lift and its buttons were being explored as a potential exposure event, with CCTV being reviewed.

The hotel’s ventilation is not believed to have contributed, with the rooms the infected cases were in negatively or neutrally pressured.

Mr McGowan said the transmission between the two guests likely occurred on the aircraft. How one of them then infected the guard remains under investigation.

Perth avoids lockdown for now

Mr McGowan said a lockdown had so far been avoided because – while case 1001 was suspected of being in the community for four days while potentially infectious – it had occurred while some step-down restrictions were still in place from the Mercure Hotel outbreak.

The hotel security guard had days earlier received his first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine, initially believing his symptoms to be as a result of the injection.

From May 10, vaccines are due to become mandatory for COVID-19 frontline workers.

Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid told Radio 6PR the repeated breaches in hotel quarantine in WA had been frustrating.

AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid.Credit: Peter de Kruijff

“It appears to us not every step that could have been taken to avoid these breaches has been taken by WA and some other states,” he said.

“I think Premier McGowan needs to stop avoiding responsibility and just do everything that he can do to protect the workers that are in hotel quarantine.

“There shouldn’t be anybody there who is not vaccinated, and this chap was not fully vaccinated. They should be wearing appropriate PPE which, from what we understand, is not currently the case.”

Despite an independent review of WA’s hotel quarantine system, provided to the state government in April, recommending N95 masks be worn by security guards outside isolating rooms, WA Health has decided against adopting the suggestion, as it says the masks are too uncomfortable to wear for extended periods.

Vaccinations now available for anyone over 50

From Monday, anyone over the age of 50 is eligible to receive the AstraZenaca vaccine.

Mr McGowan and health minister Roger Cook were among the first in line to receive their jabs at the Tom Wilding Pavilion at Claremont Showgrounds.

The vaccine is available at government-run vaccination clinics. Regular GP clinics will able to provide the shot from Monday, May 17.

WA Health Minister Roger Cook being vaccinated. Credit: Hamish Hastie

Bringing the vaccine forward for people aged 50 and over means almost six million Australians not yet vaccinated in the 50-69-year-old group will now be eligible.