Two new cases, probe into mystery case continues

Western Australia has recorded two new local cases of COVID-19 overnight, as investigations into the source of yesterday’s mystery case continue.

According to the state’s health department, one of the new cases is connected to the Hyatt hotel cluster, which began after a security guard tested positive for the Omicron variant.

The other positive case is a household contact of a returned interstate traveller who recently contracted the virus.

Both of the cases are in quarantine.

Meanwhile, investigations are continuing into how yesterday’s mystery case, now referred to as case 1260, was exposed to COVID-19 and what variant she has.

So far, the woman’s household contacts have tested negative.

New locations were added to the state’s list of potential exposure sites, including a pharmacy in Atwell, Bunnings Midland, and Woolworths at Cockburn Gateway, taking the total number to 175.

A further 14 travel-related COVID cases were also recorded overnight.

As of today, the vaccination rate stands at 94.4 per cent for first dose vaccination of Western Australians aged 12 and over, with 87 per cent of the cohort now fully vaccinated.

More than 18 per cent of those aged 16 and over have received their third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Meanwhile, the federal government held a national cabinet meeting this morning, in the wake of major outbreaks and workforce disruptions in the eastern states.

During a post-meeting press conference this afternoon, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters the focus would remain on keeping Australians in work and out of hospital.

He stressed that it was not realistic nor practical to prevent people from getting the virus, deeming significant pressure on hospitals “inevitable” in a pandemic of this scale.

“The key point to stress is that this is a constantly moving target,” he said.

“The goal, however, is not to stop everyone from getting COVID, but to keep the economy going and our hospitals functioning.

“We intend to do that through a combination of getting people vaccinated and sensible health measures to minimise serious illness, hospitalisations and fatalities.”

The federal government has agreed to extend the easing of restrictions for close contacts in a bid to alleviate the significant supply chain disruptions being experienced in the eastern states.