WA Premier, Health Minister receive Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine as state records no new local cases overnight

A ‘working theory’ has gone some way to explain how an Australian quarantine hotel security guard contracted the US strain of COVID-19.

A quarantine hotel security guard who contracted COVID-19 did not pick up the virus as a result of poor ventilation, according to the West Australian health minister.

The “working theory” is that the virus spread from a US traveller to another traveller from Indonesia and the security guard.

Health Minister Roger Cook told reporters on Monday that the traveller from Indonesia was on the same floor at the Pan Pacific Hotel as the person from the US and they arrived in Perth on the same day.

“Security guards are kept away from the doors of any rooms where we know we have positive travellers, but in this particular case the security guard was required to be in the proximity of the lift,” Mr Cook said.

He said it was possible the virus was transferred that way, but stressed it was not a ventilation issue, adding that had been ruled out as a possibility by authorities.

“We believe that both the traveller from Indonesia and US were infectious when they went into the hotel so there’s some other movement which actually led to it,” he said.

The security guard was working at the Pan Pacific Hotel. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Asked if it was possible the virus was transferred on the bus ride to the hotel, Mr Cook said that was a potential theory.

“But we’re really just making sure that we look at all the CCTV footage that we have, as well as the epidemiological evidence that we have, to get a better understanding,” he said.

Premier Mark McGowan said the travellers were on the same flight to Perth, so the virus might have spread on the plane.

Three new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in hotel quarantine overnight, but there were no new local transmissions in the state.

West Australian Health Minister Roger Cook and Premier Mark McGowan pose after receiving their Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine at Claremont Showgrounds on Monday. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Western Australia narrowly avoided another lockdown after the hotel security guard and two of his housemates contracted the virus.

Authorities have identified 58 close contacts, of which 26 have so far tested negative. Seventeen contacts came from a cooking class.

Of the 217 casual contacts, 43 have so far tested negative.

Mr McGowan said a separate list of locations would be added to the public exposure locations list, relating to venues where two infected food delivery drivers picked up and dropped off food.

There are about 100 locations that are considered very low risk and people who had food delivered to them must get tested.

People who were at the restaurants are also encouraged to get tested.

Mr McGowan said the current restrictions were expected to expire on Friday night, but the situation would be reviewed throughout the week.

Western Australia has 2003 people in hotel quarantine.

The Premier & Health Minister have rolled up their sleeves.
Both had the AstraZeneca vaccine, now available for all over 50’s in WA @7NewsPerthpic.twitter.com/28mnJAg9o5

— Jessica Page (@JessicaPage7) May 3, 2021

Meanwhile, Mr McGowan, 53, and Mr Cook, 55, have received the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The coronavirus jab is now available for everyone over the age of 50.

Mr McGowan previously said he would not jump ahead of the queue to get the vaccine and would instead wait until he was eligible.

Asked how he was feeling after the needle went in, Mr McGowan joked: “Has she done it yet?”

The Premier said he “didn’t feel a thing”.

He later told reporters it “wasn’t a difficult experience” and urged people to get the jab.

“Didn’t feel a thing” says Premier @MarkMcGowanMP after #AstraZeneca jab this morning @abcperthpic.twitter.com/zBhKMQWhUK

— Kate Leaver (@KateLeaver92) May 3, 2021

People can get the jab at the state-run community vaccination clinics or wait until May 17 to get it at their GP clinic.

The state-run metropolitan community clinics are located at the Claremont Showgrounds, Kwinana Supa Centre and near Perth Airport at 2 George Wiencke Drive.

A fourth community vaccination clinic is scheduled to open later this month in Joondalup.

In regional Western Australia, hospital-based vaccination clinics are offering vaccinations in the Goldfields, Great Southern, Kimberley, Mid West, Pilbara, South West and Wheatbelt regions in addition to some local GP clinics.