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McGowan 'very unhappy' with protocol breach, but full of praise for Pilbara personnel
By Kate Hedley
WA Premier Mark McGowan has met with staff at Port Hedland’s quarantine site and thanked personnel from the police and armed forces, as well as healthcare workers for their efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak that originated on board a bulk carrier.
The Patricia Oldendorff remains off the Pilbara coast, with Health Minister Roger Cook saying on Wednesday he was hopeful the vessel would be able to leave local waters by October 10.
Mr McGowan confirmed on Thursday there had been no further infections reported from the ship’s crew, and two who had earlier tested positive for the coronavirus had since recovered.
“We’re doing our best to keep a very, very secure environment,” he said. “The measures are very, very significant. First class.”
The Premier maintained the community of Port Hedland was at little risk of infection and said strict protocols were in place, despite footage emerging of a Health Department worker wearing no protective clothing coming within metres of infected people last week.
“I was very, very, very disappointed,” Mr McGowan said.
“It was a fairly silly thing that occurred. It’s not a good situation.
“We were very, very unhappy.”
He said the worker had since been tested for COVID-19 and, while it returned negative, she had been quarantined.
“Sometimes people do things that are unwise and silly, but we're doing our best to ensure it doesn't happen again,” Mr McGowan said.
Overnight, WA reported one new COVID-19 case in a returned traveller.
The new case is a man in his 30s who travelled to Perth from India. He is in hotel quarantine.
WA’s total number of COVID-19 cases is now 685.